Author: whatcathyreadnext

The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2021: Some Contenders?

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WalterScottPrizeThe deadline for publishers to submit books published in 2020 for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2021 is fast approaching. The prize is open to novels written in English and published in the previous year in the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth. Reflecting the subtitle ‘Sixty Years Since’ of Scott’s famous work Waverley, the majority of the storyline must have taken place at least 60 years ago.

Like other historical fiction fans, I shall be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the longlist in March 2021 and the shortlist the following month. As in previous years, I’ll try to read as many as possible of the longlisted novels that I haven’t read already and all those that make it on to the shortlist.

There were some fantastic historical fiction novels published in 2020. Below are some I’ve read that I’d love to see make the longlist, some books in my TBR pile which judging from reviews may well deserve a place, and a few others I don’t yet have copies of but which look like possible contenders for inclusion (subject in each case to them meeting all the eligibility criteria). Links from the titles will take you to my review or the book description on Goodreads.

Check back when the longlist is announced to see if any of my picks match the judges’ choices.

Books I read in 2020 

The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford

Miss Graham’s Cold War Cookbook by Celia Rees

V2 by Robert Harris

Imperfect Alchemist by Naomi Miller

When We Fall by Carolyn Kirby

People Like Us by Louise Fein

V For Victory by Lissa Evans

City of Spies by Mara Timon

A Thousand Moons by Sebastian Barry

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Books in my TBR pile

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

The Mirror & The Light by Hilary Mantel

The Diver and the Lover by Jeremy Vine

Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce

The Foundling by Stacey Halls

Books on my RADAR

The Betrayals by Bridget Collins

Islands of Mercy by Rose Tremain

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

One August Night by Victoria Hislop

The Last Protector by Andrew Taylor

This Lovely City by Louise Hare

Are any of your favourites on my list?  What other historical fiction novels published in 2020 do you think deserve to be nominated?

My Week in Books – 13th December 2020

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MyWeekinBooks

On What Cathy Read Next last week

Blog posts

Monday – I introduced my Buchan of the Month for December, The Long Traverse by John Buchan.

Tuesday –  This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic was on the theme of Christmas and I shared some of my Favourite Christmas Scenes. I also reviewed my Buchan of the Month for November, The King’s Grace by John Buchan.

Wednesday – WWW Wednesday is the opportunity to share what I’ve just read, what I’m currently reading and what I plan to read next…as well as have a good nose around to see what other bloggers are reading.

Thursday –  I published my review of The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn as part of the blog tour.

Friday – I shared my review of Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen which usefully fulfilled one of the two remaining categories I need to complete the What’s In A Name Challenge 2020.

 As always, thanks to everyone who has liked, commented on or so shared my blog posts on social media.

New arrivals

Logo-World-Editions-2018-black-whiteGame of the Gods by Paolo Maurensig, trans. by Anne Milano Appel (ARC, courtesy of World Editions)

In 1930s British India, a humble servant learns the art of chaturanga, the ancient Eastern ancestor of chess. His natural talent soon catches the attention of the maharaja, who introduces him to the Western version of the game. Brought to England as the prince’s pawn, Malik becomes a chess legend, winning the world championship and humiliating the British colonialists. His skills as a refined strategist eventually drag him into a strange game of warfare with far-reaching consequences.

Inspired by the unlikely true story of chess master Malik Mir Sultan Khan, Game of the Gods is a fascinating tale of karma and destiny.

9781788547543Last Flight to Stalingrad by Graham Hurley (eARC, courtesy of Severn House, via NetGalley)

Berlin, 1942: For four years, the men in field grey have helped themselves to country after country across Western Europe. For Werner Nehmann, a journalist at the Promi – the Ministry of Propaganda – this dizzying series of victories has felt like a party without end. But now the Reich’s attention has turned towards the East, and as winter sets in, the mood is turning. Werner’s boss, Joseph Goebbels, can sense it.

A small man with a powerful voice and coal-black eyes, Goebbels has a deep understanding the dark arts of manipulation. His words, his newsreels, have shaken Germany awake, propelling it towards its greater destiny and he won’t let – he can’t let – morale falter now. But the Minister of Propaganda is uneasy and in his discomfort has pulled Werner into his close confidence. And here, amid the power struggle between the Nazi Chieftains, Werner will make his mistake and begin his descent into the hell of Stalingrad.

On What Cathy Read Next this week

Currently reading

Planned posts

  • The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2021: Some Contenders?
  • Top Ten Tuesday: My Winter 2020/21 TBR
  • Waiting on Wednesday
  • Blog Tour/Book Review: A Time for Swords by Matthew Harffy
  • Book Review: The Running Wolf by Helen Steadman