Tag: WalterScottPrize

The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction: A Wishlist

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The deadline for publishers to submit books published in 2017 for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2018 is fast approaching (31st January).  As a historical fiction fan, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the longlist and the ‘Academy Recommends’ list in February.  Last year, I only managed to read the shortlisted novels but this year I intend to read, if possible, all the longlisted novels (where I haven’t read them already).

Which leads me to the purpose of this post.  Here are some of the historical fiction novels I read in 2017 that I’d love to see make the longlist (subject to them meeting the eligibility criteria).  In addition, some books I haven’t got around to reading yet but which, judging from reviews, potentially deserve a place on the longlist.

(My early tips: Irish authors seem to do particularly well – perhaps Banville, Boyne and Toibin might fight it out? – and surely it would be lovely for Helen Dunmore to be recognised, albeit posthumously.)

Books I read in 2017 (click on title for my review)

Shelter by Sarah Franklin (Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre)

Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves by Rachel Malik (Publisher: Fig Tree)

Vindolanda by Adrian Goldsworthy (Publisher: Head of Zeus)

Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore (Publisher: Hutchinson)

The Watch House by Bernie McGill (Publisher: Tinder Press)

Anne Boleyn: The King’s Obsession by Alison Weir (Publisher: Headline)

In the Name of the Family by Sarah Dunant (Publisher: Virago)

Widdershins by Helen Steadman (Publisher: Impress Books)

The Wardrobe Mistress by Patrick McGrath (Publisher: Hutchinson)

House of Names by Colm Toibin (Publisher: Scribner)

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Books on the grapevine (click on title for Goodreads entry)

The Last Tudor by Phillipa Gregory (Publisher: Touchstone)

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (Publisher: Hogarth)

How To Stop Time by Matt Haig (Publisher: Canongate)  [My outlier – does it even count as historical fiction?]

Mrs Osmond by John Banville (Publisher: Hamish Hamilton)

The Witchfinder’s Sister by Beth Underdown (Publisher: Viking)

Munich by Robert Harris (Publisher: Hutchinson)

  • Is your favourite on my list? 
  • What other historical fiction novels published in the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth in 2017 are worthy of nomination?
  • Come back in February to see how my picks match the judges’ choices…

Reading The Walter Scott Prize Shortlist: An Update

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A couple of months ago, I undertook the challenge of reading all the novels shortlisted for this year’s The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.   You can read my original post here.

I’ve finally finished reading all the books – with a day to spare! I’ve enjoyed all of them and, by working my way through the shortlist, I’ve been introduced to new authors and travelled – in a literary sense – to America, Russia, Switzerland, Ireland, New York, England and France. This, I feel, is the real joy of literary prizes; they introduce you to books you might not otherwise have read.

Well, it’s time to put my neck on the line and make my choice of winner and my prediction about the winning book.

Firstly, I’m going to group three books together that I enjoyed, that are great books, but didn’t thrill or move me as much as others: The Vanishing Futurist by Charlotte Hobson, Golden Hill by Francis Spufford and The Gustav Sonata by Rose Tremain. Click on each title to read my review.

Next, I’m going to mention two books as worthy runners-up: The Good People by Hannah Kent and A Country Road, A Tree by Jo Baker. Both are wonderful, clever and compelling books. Again, click on the title to read my review.

Finally, the two books I awarded full marks: Days Without End by Sebastian Barry and Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift. Each book is wonderful in its own way and either would be a worthy winner. However, the book that will stay with me longest is Days Without End, so that’s going to be both my pick and my prediction for winner.

The result will be announced on 17th June 2017 so not long to wait to see if my prediction is correct.