The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction – Five Novels That Nearly Won

The longlist for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2024 will be announced on 22nd February 2024. The prize is open to novels written in English and first published in 2023 in the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth. The majority of the storyline, i.e. over 50%, must take place at least 60 years ago.

I’m not going to try to predict which novels will appear on the list, as I have in previous years, because my record is dismal.  Historical novels I’ve loved don’t make it and books I’ve not read or even heard of do, although the latter is one of the joys of the longlist. Instead, I’m going to revisit some of the shortlisted books from previous years that I loved but which didn’t go on to win the prize. Links from each title will take you to my full review.

You can view all the books that have been shortlisted from 2017 onwards on my dedicated Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction page, where you’ll also find links to my reviews of those I’ve managed to read.

The Chosen by Elizabeth Lowry (shortlisted in 2023) – a beautifully written portrait of the marriage of Thomas and Emma Hardy, a marriage that could have been so much happier if only the flame of passion had remained alight; instead, it was allowed to flicker and die. The book’s wistful, melancholic tone is perhaps best summed up by Hardy’s reflection, ‘Too late, he sees it all.’

Fortune by Amanda Smyth (shortlisted in 2022) – a fascinating glimpse into a little known aspect of Trinidad’s history and a skilfully crafted story that explores how strong emotions – passion, despair, ambition – can make people risk everything.

The Redeemed by Tim Pears (shortlisted in 2020) – the final book in the author’s West Country trilogy, in which the lives of its two main characters – Leo and Lottie – converge in the most moving way, and which is a love letter to the natural world.

Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller (shortlisted in 2019) – an officer returns from Britain’s disastrous campaign against Napoleon’s forces in Spain, haunted by memories of an atrocity he witnessed, and seeks sanctuary on a remote Scottish island.

Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves by Rachel Malik (shortlisted in 2018) – the arrival of a visitor at Starlight Farm threatens to put the life that Renee Hargreaves and Elsie Boston have built together under an unwelcome and potentially life-changing spotlight.