Tag: literary prizes

The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2020: Some Contenders?

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WalterScottPrizeThe deadline for publishers to submit books published in 2019 for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2020 passed on 20th December 2019 (a little earlier than in previous years).

Like other historical fiction fans, I shall be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the longlist and the ‘Academy Recommends’ list in March. Last year, I only managed to read five of the twelve longlisted novels but those five represented all but one of the six shortlisted novels.  You can find links to my reviews here.  This year 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 2019 and listed below are some I’ve read that I’d love to see make the longlist (subject to them meeting all the eligibility criteria).  (Links from the titles will take you to my reviews.)

In addition, there are some books in my TBR pile I haven’t got around to reading yet but which, judging from reviews, may well deserve a place.  Finally, there are a few others that I’m yet to acquire but which also look like possible contenders for inclusion. (Links from the titles will take you to the book description on Goodreads.)

Check back when the longlist is announced to see how my picks match the judges’ choices – if at all!

Books I read and loved in 2019 

Once Upon A River  by Diane Setterfield

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

Blackberry and Wild Rose by Sonia Velton

Blood & Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

The Phoenix of Florence by Philip Kazan

Nemesis (Tom Wilde #3) by Rory Clements

The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey

The Photographer of the Lost by Carolyn Scott

The Mathematical Bridge by Jim Kelly

The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea

The Familiars by Stacey Halls

The Road to Grantchesterby James Runcie

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Fled by Meg Keneally

The Mermaid’s Call by Katherine Stansfield

This Mortal Boy by Fiona Kidman

Books in my TBR pile

The Hiding Game by Naomi Wood

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver

The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal

The Binding by Bridget Collins

Books ‘on my RADAR’

The Offing by Benjamin Myers

Are any of your favourites on my list?  What other historical fiction novels published in 2019 do you think deserve to be nominated?

The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2019 Longlist

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It’s what lovers of historical fiction have been waiting for – the publication yesterday of the longlist for the 2019 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.    The organisers and judges have  treated us again this year because there are twelve titles on a longlist of great variety, including a couple of books that are completely new to me (which is always a surprise to someone who prides herself as being up on the latest historical fiction).

Congratulations to all the authors and publishers of the longlisted books.

Little by Edward Carey (Gallic Books) – in my TBR pile

A Long Way From Home by Peter Carey (Faber)

After The Party by Cressida Connolly (Viking) – Read and reviewed

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (Serpent’s Tail)

The Western Wind  by Samantha Harvey (Jonathan Cape) – in my TBR pile

Dark Water by Elizabeth Lowry (riverrun)

Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller (Sceptre) – in my TBR pile

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje (Jonathan Cape) – in my TBR pile

The Wanderers by Tim Pears (Bloomsbury)

The Long Take by Robin Robertson  (Picador)

All The Lives We Never Lived by Anuradha Roy (Maclehose Press)

Tombland by C J Sansom (Mantle) – in my TBR pile

Walter Scott Prize Longlist 2019

I’m not going to promise to read the entire longlist before the short list is announced in April but I’ll have a go. Visit The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction page on my blog for links to my reviews or the book description on Goodreads.  I’ll be updating the links as I read and review them.

I recently shared my thoughts on contenders for the longlist and I suppose I should congratulate myself that I got any right.  In fact, there were two I tipped that appear on the longlist – Warlight by Michael Ondaatje and Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller – although I haven’t read either of them yet. Four more of my predictions made it on to the Academy Recommends list, a list of twenty recommended books supplementary to the longlist: Love is Blind by William Boyd and All Among The Barley by Melissa Harrison (which I’m currently reading) plus The Black Earth by Philip Kazan and The Angel’s Mark by S.W. Perry, both of which I loved.

Are there books you’re surprised to see on the list?  Are there favourites you’re sad didn’t make it?  Are you planning to read some or all of the longlisted books?  Do you have any early predictions for the shortlist or even the eventual prize-winner?