Tag: literary prizes

The shortlist for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2025 was announced on 15th April 2025. Congratulations to the authors and publishers of the shortlisted books. Some fantastic books have made it through to this final stage.

I ventured a prediction of the books that would make the shortlist and got three right. They are all ones I’ve read. The three I haven’t – The Mare, The Book of Days and Glorious Exploits – I’m pretty confident I can read before the winner is announced on Thursday 15^th June 2025. And the exciting thing is I’ll be there when the announcement is made because I’m making the long trek to attend the Borders Book Festival for the first time.

So without further ado, here are the books on the shortlist. Links from the titles will take you to my review or the book description on Goodreads.

The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry (Canongate) Read
The Mare by Angharad Hampshire (Northodox Press)
The Book of Days by Francesca Kay (Swift Press)
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon (Fig Tree)
The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller (Sceptre) Read
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Viking) Read

Have you read any of the books on the list? Are there any you’re planning to read? Is there a book you’d like to see win?

The 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.

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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?