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The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2025 Longlist @waltscottprize

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WalterScottPrizeThe longlist for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2025 was announced earlier today. Congratulations to all the authors and publishers of the books on the longlist. It’s particularly great to see so many independent publishers represented.

As usual, the longlist provided some surprises with only three books I’ve read (all of which I tipped to appear on the list) and another in my TBR pile. I’ve heard of a couple of the others but haven’t got round to reading them. The rest are completely new to me – the authors and/or the books. 

I’ve divided the twelve novels into three parts: those I’ve read and reviewed, those I own but have yet to read, and those that are now on my wishlist (if they weren’t already). Links from the titles will take you to my review or the book description on Goodreads.

Read and reviewed

The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry (Canongate)
Clear by Carys Davies (Granta)
The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller (Sceptre)

Waiting to be read

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Viking)

Now on my wishlist

The Catchers by Xan Brooks (Salt)
Mother Naked by Glen James Brown (Peninsula Press)
The Mare: A Novel by Angharad Hampshire (Northodox Press)
The Book of Days by Francesca Kay (Swift Press)
The First Friend by Malcolm Knox (Allen & Unwin)
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon (Fig Tree) 
A Sign of Her Own by Sarah Marsh (Tinder Press)
Munichs by David Peace (Faber)

I usually say I’ll try to read all the longlisted books before the shortlist is announced in April.  I think that’s going to be a tall order this year so I may have to prioritise some of the shorter ones. 

Have you read any of the books on the list? Are there any you’re planning to read?

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My Week in Books – 16th February 2025

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On the blog last week

Monday – I published my review of The Ghosts of Rome by Joseph O’Connor.

Tuesday – This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic was a freebie on the theme of love. My list consisted on book whose titles relate to aspects of love.

Wednesday – As always WWW Wednesday is a weekly opportunity to share what I’ve just read, what I’m currently reading and what I plan to read next… and to take a peek at what others are reading. 

Thursday – I an excerpt from technothriller Bazaar by Miles Joyner.

Friday – I published my review of A Year in a Small Garden by Frances Tophill.

Saturday – I shared my review of A Cold Wind From Moscow by Rory Clements.

New on my shelves

Front cover of My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende, translated by Frances Riddle (eARC, Ballantine Books via NetGalley)

In San Francisco in 1866, an Irish nun, abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, gives birth to a daughter named Emilia del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman.

To pursue her passion for writing, she is willing to defy societal norms. At the age of seventeen, she begins to publish pulp fiction using a man’s pen name. When these fictional worlds can no longer satisfy her sense of adventure, she turns to journalism, convincing an editor at The Daily Examiner to hire her. There she is paired with another talented reporter, Eric Whelan.

As she proves herself, her restlessness returns, until an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile. She seizes it, as does Eric, and while there, she meets her estranged father and delves into the violent confrontation in the country where her roots lie. As she and Eric discover love, the war escalates and Emilia finds herself in extreme danger, fearing for her life and questioning her identity and her destiny.

What I’m currently reading

Look out for…

  • Book Review: The Language of Remembering by Patrick Holloway
  • Q&A: Twilight of Evil by George Alexander