Simon Mawer
20th February, 2025
The judges and founders of the Prize were deeply saddened to learn of the death of former winner and shortlistee Simon Mawer. His wonderful novel Tightrope won the Prize in 2016, and he was shortlisted twice, first for The Glass Room in 2010 and then again for Ancestry only two years ago, when he contributed in a typically lively and incisive… Read More »
The 2025 Walter Scott Prize Longlist
18th February, 2025
The Longlist for the sixteenth Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has been announced by The Abbotsford Trust. The twelve novels contending for the £25,000 Prize are: THE HEART IN WINTER Kevin Barry (Canongate) THE CATCHERS Xan Brooks (Salt) MOTHER NAKED Glen James Brown (Peninsula Press) CLEAR Carys Davies (Granta) THE MARE Angharad Hampshire (Northodox… Read More »
Two new judges announced for Walter Scott Prize 2025
5th December, 2024
The Chair of Judges for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is delighted to announce the arrival of two new judges to its 2025 Prize panel, following the stepping down of long-standing judge Kirsty Wark after 12 years, and the death of the Duchess of Buccleuch in 2023. Rosi Byard-Jones (L above) was one… Read More »
Kevin Jared Hosein wins 2024 Walter Scott Prize for ‘many-layered tale’ of 1940s colonial Trinidad
13th June, 2024
The Caribbean writer Kevin Jared Hosein has won the 2024 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel Hungry Ghosts, which tells the story of marginalised Hindu communities in Trinidad during the 1940s when, in the words of the author, ‘British colonial rule was loosening’ and ‘Trinidad was starting to be reborn’. The judging… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Tom Crewe
11th June, 2024
In the last of our six shortlist interviews, Tom Crewe answers our questions about The New Life and how he wrote it. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? I’m delighted. I don’t consider myself a historical novelist, since the… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Tan Twan Eng
11th June, 2024
Shortlisted author and previous Scott Prize winner Tan Twan Eng tells us more about The House of Doors. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? It’s heart-warming, but it’s also tense and exciting! It’s an immense honour: the prize is… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Kai Thomas
5th June, 2024
In the fourth of our shortlisted author interviews, Kai Thomas tells us more about his book In The Upper Country. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? My novel being shortlisted for this prize triggers waves of elation, disbelief, and… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Kevin Jared Hosein
31st May, 2024
Trinidadian author Kevin Jared Hosein talks to us about Hungry Ghosts. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? Truly a privilege to be shortlisted and to have Trinidad and Tobago be represented on such an impressive stage. Moreover, I feel… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Joseph O’Connor
30th May, 2024
Shortlisted author Joseph O’Connor tells us more about My Father’s House. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? I’ve become one. My early novels and short stories were contemporary, and I’ve been a columnist for radio and newspapers, which involves… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Rose Tremain
29th May, 2024
In the first of six interviews with this year’s shortlisted authors, Dame Rose Tremain answers our questions about her book Absolutely and Forever. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? This has happened once before in 2012. I was thrilled… Read More »