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Costa Book Awards
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| Costa Book Awards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Awarded for | English-language books by writers based in the UK and Ireland |
| Country | United Kingdom and Ireland |
| Presented by | Costa Coffee |
| Formerly called | Whitbread Book Awards |
| First award | 1971 |
| Final award | 2021 |
| Website | http://costabookawards.com  |
The Costa Book Awards were a set of annual literary awards recognising English-language books by writers based in UK and Ireland. Originally named the Whitbread Book Awards from 1971 to 2005 after its first sponsor, the Whitbread company, then a brewery and owner of pub-restaurant chains, it was renamed when Costa Coffee, then a subsidiary of Whitbread, took over sponsorship.[1][2] The companion Costa Short Story Award was established in 2012.[3] Costa Coffee was purchased by the Coca-Cola Company in 2018. The awards were discontinued in 2022.[4]
The awards were given both for high literary merit and for works that were enjoyable reading, and their aim was to convey the enjoyment of reading to the widest possible audience. As such, they were considered a more populist literary prize than the Booker Prize, which also limited winners to literature written in the English language and published in the UK and Ireland.
Awards were separated into six categories: Biography, Children's Books, First Novel, Novel, Poetry, and Short Story.
In 1989, there was controversy when the judges first awarded the Best Novel prize to Alexander Stuart's The War Zone, then withdrew the prize prior to the ceremony amid acrimony among the judges, ultimately awarding it to Lindsay Clarke's The Chymical Wedding.
History
[edit]The 1989 Whitbread Book Award for Best Novel was first awarded to The War Zone by Alexander Stuart.[5] However, juror Jane Gardam felt the book was "repellent" and appealed directly to the Whitbread company, arguing that awarding the prize to Stuart's novel would make them into a "laughing stock".[6] After ten days, and leaking the story to the press, the other two jurors, David Cook and Val Hennessy, were persuaded to change their minds, and Lindsay Clarke's The Chymical Wedding won the award instead. Both Cook and Hennessy found the experience so unpleasant they vowed to never sit in an award jury again.[7]
The awards were discontinued in 2022, with the 2021 awards being the last ones made.[4][8] Just one month later, the Blue Peter Book Award was also discontinued; this left only three widely recognized awards for UK children's literature (the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Carnegie Medal, and the Kate Greenaway Medal).[9]
Process
[edit]There were five book award categories. These had not been changed since the Poetry Award was introduced in 1985, although the children's category had been termed "children's novel" or "children's book of the year".[1][2] The categories are:
- Novel
- First novel
- Children's book
- Poetry
- Biography
Each of the five winning writers received £5,000. The prize required a £5,000 fee from publishers if a book was to be shortlisted.[10]
Short stories
[edit]The short story award was established in 2012 with a prize of £3,500 for the first, £1,000 for the second and £500 for the third.[11] The winning story was determined by public vote from a shortlist of six that were selected by a panel of judges. The process was "blind" at both stages for the unpublished entries were anonymous until the conclusion.[3][12]
In the inaugural year, the six short story finalists were exposed anonymously online while the public vote was underway, two months before the winner was to be announced.[12]
Winners
[edit]Bold font and blue ribbon (
) distinguish the overall Costa/Whitbread Book of the Year.[1]
For lists that include shortlisted entries (where available), please see:
- Costa Book Award for Novel
- Costa Book Award for First Novel
- Costa Book Award for Children's Book
- Costa Book Award for Poetry
- Costa Book Award for Biography
- Costa Book Award for Short Story
List of award winners
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "CBA Past Winners 2015 Version" (PDF). Costa Book Awards. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ a b "CBA Past Shortlists 2015 Version" (PDF). Costa Book Awards. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ a b Alison Flood (17 July 2012). "Costa's new short story award to be judged anonymously". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ a b Barnett, David (10 June 2022). "Costa book awards scrapped suddenly after 50 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Kelly, Laura (11 January 2000). "The Wrath of Roth". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021.
- ^ "The War Zone Diary", page 222 of the War Zone, Stuart, Alexander, ISBN 0385249535, Doubleday, 1989
- ^ David Streitfeld (10 December 1989). "Book Report". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- ^ Armitstead, Claire (23 June 2022). "Shock ending: how the Costa book awards changed reading – and pitted husband against wife". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Shaffi, Sarah (6 July 2022). "Children's books world reacts to 'horrible loss' of Blue Peter book awards". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023.
- ^
Danuta Kean (2 January 2017). "On eve of Costa awards, experts warn that top books prizes are harming fiction". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
The biggest three prizes, including the Costas, require a £5,000 fee from publishers if a book is shortlisted. This is a contribution towards marketing and should, the organisers claim, be offset by increases in sales.
- ^ "The Costa Short Story Award terms and conditions of entry" (PDF). Costa. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^ a b Alison Flood (28 November 2012). "Costa short story prize to be decided by public vote". Alison Flood. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ "Costa Short Story Award" Archived 15 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Costa Book Awards. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
- ^ "Costa Book Awards 2017" (PDF). Costa Book Awards. January 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ "Costa Book Awards 2018: the category award winners are..." BBC. January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ Chandler, Mark (28 January 2020). "Costa Book of the Year won by Fairweather's The Volunteer". The Bookseller. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ Doyle, Martin (6 January 2020). "Costa Book Awards 2019 winners revealed". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "Costa Book of the Year: 'Utterly original' Mermaid of Black Conch wins". BBC. January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Costa Book Awards 2021 category winners announced". Costa. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Costa Book Awards.
- Official website
- Costa Book Awards collected news and commentary at The Guardian
- Injecting Caffeine Into the Whitbread (Now Costa) Book Awards at The Book Standard
Costa Book Awards
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Origins and Establishment
The Costa Book Awards originated as the Whitbread Literary Awards, founded in 1971 by the British brewing and hospitality company Whitbread plc with the aim of encouraging, promoting, and celebrating the enjoyment of reading among the public.[6] This initiative sought to highlight literary excellence in contemporary British and Irish writing in English, distinguishing itself by emphasizing accessible and enjoyable works rather than solely academic merit.[7] The awards initially encompassed four categories in 1971: Novel, Children's Book, Biography, and Poetry.[6] The first awards were presented in 1971, with subsequent ceremonies establishing an annual rhythm. The Poetry category was awarded only in 1971 before being dropped; it was reinstated in 1985.[6] In 1974, a First Book category was added to recognize debut works (not limited to novels initially), which later evolved into the First Novel category.[6] The Biography category focused on third-person biographies, distinct from autobiographies, which received separate recognition in some early years. Each category winner received £5,000 by the mid-2000s, selected by a panel of judges, providing substantial financial support for authors at a time when literary prizes were less common in the UK.[8] A key milestone came in 1985 with the introduction of an overall Book of the Year award, selected from the category winners, marking the first time a single title was honored across the board—Elegies by Douglas Dunn took this inaugural prize.[7] In 2006, the awards were renamed the Costa Book Awards following sponsorship by Costa Coffee.[6]Sponsorship Changes and Evolution
In 2006, the Whitbread Book Awards transitioned to new sponsorship under Costa Coffee, a UK-based coffee chain, resulting in their rebranding as the Costa Book Awards. This change marked a shift toward broader accessibility, aligning the prize with Costa's brand ethos of promoting the enjoyment of reading in everyday settings like coffee shops.[9][2] The core structure of five categories—Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry, and Children's Book—remained intact from the later Whitbread era, with the First Book (later First Novel) added in 1974 and Poetry reinstated in 1985 alongside the overall Book of the Year format.[6] The Costa sponsorship brought subtle evolutions, including a refined focus on works that balanced literary quality with engaging, readable narratives to appeal to diverse audiences beyond elite literary circles.[10][3] A notable expansion occurred in 2012 with the launch of the annual Short Story Award, the first new category under Costa, dedicated to unpublished stories of up to 4,000 words by authors aged 18 or older. Unlike other categories, entries were judged anonymously by a panel, with the shortlist determined by public vote to encourage wider participation and discover emerging talent. This addition underscored Costa's commitment to nurturing short-form writing and broadening the awards' reach.[11][12] From 2006 onward, the awards' guidelines explicitly emphasized "readability" as a key criterion alongside literary merit, positioning the prizes to celebrate books that were not only accomplished but also vividly engaging and suitable for broad recommendation. This approach contributed to the awards' evolution into a more populist yet prestigious platform, avoiding literary snobbery while honoring innovative storytelling across genres.[10] Submission volumes reflected this growth in prominence and inclusivity, rising from a few hundred entries in the early Whitbread years to over 500 annually by the 2010s, with peaks such as 596 in 2016, 641 in 2018, and 934 in 2021—the highest in the awards' history. This surge highlighted the expanding appeal to UK and Irish authors, supported by Costa's marketing efforts in bookstores and cafes.[13][14][15]Discontinuation
On June 10, 2022, Costa Coffee announced the permanent discontinuation of the Costa Book Awards after 50 years, with CEO Jill McDonald stating, “After 50 years of celebrating some of the most enjoyable books with readers across the UK, Costa Coffee has taken the difficult decision to end the book awards.”[1][4] The company provided no explicit reasons for the closure, describing it only as a challenging choice, though industry observers attributed it to shifting priorities toward core business operations and financial pressures following the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][16][3] Costa Coffee confirmed there would be no efforts to transfer sponsorship to another organization, marking an immediate end to the program.[1][17] The final awards ceremony occurred on February 1, 2022, honoring books published in 2021, with Hannah Lowe's poetry collection The Kids named Book of the Year; no further ceremonies were held thereafter.[3][18] The sudden announcement drew widespread criticism from the literary community, with authors, publishers, and booksellers decrying the lack of advance notice or a transition period, which they argued undermined support for emerging writers and diverse voices.[1][16] Figures such as literary agent Nelle Andrew called it a “huge blow” to the industry, while Waterstones' Bea Carvalho emphasized the awards' role in elevating quality literature.[1][3] Following the closure, the official Costa Book Awards website was archived, and comprehensive lists of past winners have been preserved through literary trade publications and databases such as The Bookseller and Publishers Weekly.[4][3]Categories and Eligibility
Main Book Categories
The Costa Book Awards recognized excellence in five main book categories: Novel, First Novel, Children's Book, Poetry, and Biography. These categories focused on distinct forms of literary work, with each emphasizing high-quality, original contributions in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry by established or emerging authors. Entries were submitted by publishers, ensuring professional publication standards, and the categories collectively highlighted the diversity of British and Irish literary output. The Novel category celebrated full-length works of fiction intended for adult readers, excluding debut novels to spotlight established authors' subsequent contributions. Eligible submissions included narrative-driven stories across various genres, such as literary fiction or historical novels, provided they demonstrated originality and literary merit. For example, winners in this category often featured complex character studies or innovative storytelling techniques. In contrast, the First Novel category honored debut full-length works of fiction by new authors, providing recognition for emerging voices in adult literature. This award targeted original novels that marked an author's first major published work in the form, often showcasing fresh perspectives or bold narrative styles. It played a crucial role in launching careers, with past recipients gaining significant industry attention for their innovative debuts.[19] The Children's Book category was for literary works aimed at children aged approximately 9 to 15, including middle-grade novels, poetry collections, and biographies suitable for that age group. Submissions could include adventure tales or coming-of-age narratives, prioritizing engaging content that fostered imagination and emotional growth. This category underscored the importance of literature in early development, with eligible books demonstrating accessibility and thematic depth suitable for confident readers in that range.[20] For the Poetry category, awards were given to original collections of poetry comprising substantial works, typically featuring at least 32 pages of new material. This recognized innovative verse, thematic coherence, and linguistic artistry in forms ranging from free verse to structured sonnets, excluding anthologies or previously published compilations. The focus was on collections that advanced contemporary poetic expression through personal or societal insights. The Biography category covered non-fiction accounts of individuals' lives, including traditional biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs written by authors resident in the UK or Ireland. Eligible works explored personal histories, historical figures, or self-reflective narratives, emphasizing rigorous research, narrative skill, and insightful portrayal without requiring third-party authorship for autobiographies. This category highlighted the power of life stories to illuminate broader human experiences.[21] General eligibility across all categories required books to be written in English by authors resident in the UK or Ireland, first published in the UK or Ireland during the preceding year—specifically from 1 November of the previous year to late October of the award year. Self-published books and those solely available online were ineligible, with submissions limited to professionally published works entered by publishers. These rules ensured the awards supported accessible, high-caliber literature from within the specified regions.[22][23][24]Short Story Award
The Costa Short Story Award was launched in 2012 as a companion category to the main Costa Book Awards, aimed at promoting short fiction and providing a platform for unpublished work.[11] It sought to encourage emerging writers by shifting focus from book-length manuscripts to concise narratives, thereby diversifying the awards' scope and engaging a broader audience with short-form literature.[11] Eligibility for the award was restricted to authors aged 18 or older who had resided in the UK or Ireland for at least six months in each of the three years prior to submission, with stories required to be original, previously unpublished works in English, not exceeding 4,000 words.[25] Submissions were free and accepted online during a limited annual window, typically in July and August, with each entrant permitted only one entry; the process emphasized anonymity to ensure impartial selection, requiring stories to be submitted without author identifiers in the text.[25] The award's structure involved an initial review by readers to identify promising entries, followed by a judging panel that selected a shortlist of three stories, sometimes accompanied by highly commended works.[25] Unlike the judge-decided main categories, the winner was determined by public online voting on the shortlisted stories, which ran from mid-November to mid-January, fostering direct public engagement and democratizing the final choice.[25] There was no fixed theme in later years, allowing flexibility for bold and original storytelling.[26] The award ran annually from 2012 until 2021, aligning with the broader Costa Book Awards ceremony for announcements, before the entire program was discontinued in 2022 due to the sponsor's withdrawal.[1] Over its decade, it received thousands of entries each year, highlighting its role in nurturing short story talent and expanding access to literary recognition beyond established publishing routes.[26]Judging Process
Submission Requirements
Submissions for the main categories of the Costa Book Awards were managed exclusively by publishers, who entered eligible titles on behalf of authors resident in the UK or Ireland. To qualify, books had to be original works first published in English in the UK or Ireland during the period from 1 November of the previous calendar year to 31 October of the current year, and they needed to be commercially available to readers in those regions via standard retail channels.[23][27] There was no upfront entry fee for publishers submitting books to the main categories, though a £5,000 contribution to Costa Coffee was required from the publisher of any shortlisted title to support administrative and promotional costs. The submission window closed in late June each year, with publishers providing five copies of each entered book for the initial judging panel, along with details on publication date, author biography, and ISBN; additional copies were required if shortlisted.[28][29][30][21] Publishers were permitted to enter multiple titles per category as long as they were by different authors, but each author was limited to one entry per category to ensure fairness.[28][29][30] In contrast, the Costa Short Story Award allowed direct public submissions via the official website with no entry fee, targeting original, unpublished stories in English by authors aged 18 or older resident in the UK or Ireland (typically for at least three years). Entries were limited to 4,000 words, submitted digitally in PDF format (Arial 12-point font, double-spaced, without the author's name on the manuscript), and required accompanying author contact details and a brief biography. Only one story per author was accepted, with the submission period running from early July to early August annually.[31][32]Judging Criteria and Selection
The judging criteria for the Costa Book Awards emphasized a combination of high literary merit and enjoyable reading, with panels seeking works that balanced intellectual depth and accessibility to appeal to broad audiences. This approach prioritized books that demonstrated strong narrative quality, readability, and the potential to engage diverse readers while conveying the pleasure of literature.[33][34][35] Each category featured a panel of three judges, typically comprising established authors, literary critics, booksellers, and occasionally journalists or other industry professionals, appointed annually by the award organizers to bring varied expertise. For instance, the 2021 Novel Award panel included novelist and filmmaker Xiaolu Guo, independent bookseller Joe Hedinger, and audio producer and books journalist Dymphna Flynn. Panels operated independently per category, reading all eligible submissions before deliberating to select finalists.[36][27] The selection timeline began with the announcement of shortlists—typically three books per category—in late November, following the summer and autumn reading period. Category winners were then revealed in early January, with the overall Costa Book of the Year determined shortly after from among those victors and announced by late January or early February at a public ceremony. This schedule allowed judges sufficient time for thorough evaluation while building anticipation through staged public disclosures.[29][37] For the Costa Short Story Award, introduced in 2012, a dedicated panel of judges first selected a shortlist of three unpublished stories from hundreds of entries, evaluated anonymously to ensure fairness. The public then voted online for the winner from this shortlist, with voting open for several weeks and the result announced alongside the main category awards; this hybrid process distinguished it from the judge-only decisions in other categories.[38][39]Prizes and Recognition
Category-Specific Awards
The Costa Book Awards offered a cash prize of £5,000 to the winner in each of the five main categories—Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry, and Children's Book—providing financial recognition for outstanding literary work.[40] Shortlisted authors in these categories received prominent acknowledgment through public announcements and media features but no monetary award.[41] This structure emphasized the prestige of selection while directing the primary incentive to the category victors. The Short Story Award, added in 2012, operated distinctly with prizes determined by public vote following a judging panel's shortlist selection. The first-place winner received £3,500, second place £1,000, and third place £500, fostering broader audience engagement in the process.[25] These amounts remained unchanged throughout the award's decade-long run. Category winners were celebrated at an annual ceremony in London, where awards for individual categories were presented prior to the overall honor.[41] The prize values for the main categories remained consistent at £5,000 from 2006, when Costa Coffee assumed sponsorship, through the 2021 awards.[42] Similarly, the Short Story prizes held steady since inception.[43] Beyond the financial award, winners benefited from extensive media coverage, amplifying their visibility in the literary community.[44]Overall Book of the Year
The Overall Book of the Year award represents the pinnacle of the Costa Book Awards, recognizing the single most outstanding work among the category winners. Introduced in 1985 as part of the Whitbread Literary Awards (later rebranded as the Costa Book Awards in 2006), this honor selects one book from the five main category victors—Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry, and Children's Book—based on its exceptional literary merit combined with broad appeal and potential impact on readers.[17][3] The selection is made by a final judging panel comprising the category judges and a chairman, ensuring a holistic evaluation that emphasizes accessibility and enjoyment for the widest possible audience.[20][45] From 2006, the winning author received £30,000 in addition to the £5,000 category prize (the overall prize had been £25,000 under the Whitbread Awards), along with significant promotional opportunities that amplify the book's visibility through media coverage and literary events.[7][46] This enhanced recognition often propels the title to greater commercial success and cultural prominence. The award is announced at the annual ceremony, typically held in London, which serves as the culminating event of the awards process and is frequently live-streamed or covered extensively by major outlets, heightening its prestige.[47][48] A notable example of the award's cross-category reach occurred in 2015, when Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree, a winner in the Children's Book category, was elevated to Overall Book of the Year for its compelling narrative blending mystery, feminism, and scientific intrigue, demonstrating how works aimed at younger readers can achieve broader literary acclaim.[47][46]Winners and Legacy
Notable Category Winners
In the Novel category, Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies (2012) secured the award for its masterful continuation of the Tudor-era narrative begun in Wolf Hall, earning praise for its historical depth and character insight.[6] Similarly, Kate Atkinson's A God in Ruins (2015) triumphed, lauded for exploring the life of a World War II bomber pilot through innovative narrative structure, marking her third Costa prize win overall, the first author to achieve this between 1995 and 2015.[49] Atkinson's earlier success with Life After Life (2013) also in this category highlighted her recurring impact.[50] The First Novel category has spotlighted emerging voices, such as Zadie Smith's White Teeth (2000), which won for its vibrant portrayal of multicultural London and immigrant experiences, propelling Smith to international acclaim.[6] For Children's Book, Philip Pullman's The Amber Spyglass (2001), the finale of the His Dark Materials trilogy, received the honor for its philosophical fantasy weaving themes of free will and parallel worlds, influencing young readers' literature profoundly.[6] Katherine Rundell's The Explorer (2017) later claimed the prize, celebrated for its adventure tale of survival in the Amazon, blending excitement with environmental awareness.[6] In Poetry, Seamus Heaney's The Spirit Level (1996) was awarded for its meditative exploration of rural Irish life and personal loss, solidifying Heaney's status as a Nobel laureate.[6] Carol Ann Duffy's collections, including Mean Time (1993) and The Bees (2011), earned wins for their sharp, accessible verse on love, identity, and contemporary society, reflecting her influence across decades.[6] The Biography category featured Andrew Motion's Philip Larkin: A Writer’s Life (1993), which won for its intimate examination of the poet's contradictions and literary legacy.[6]Book of the Year Recipients
The Costa Book of the Year award, introduced in 1985 as part of the Whitbread Literary Awards (later renamed Costa Book Awards in 2006), recognizes the most outstanding book among the category winners, highlighting exceptional literary achievement and broad appeal. This prestigious honor, carrying a £30,000 prize, has been bestowed annually until 2021, underscoring works that resonate deeply with readers and judges alike for their innovation, emotional depth, and cultural significance. Over its 37-year run, the award has elevated diverse voices, often favoring fiction but also championing poetry, biography, and other genres.[6] The following table lists all Book of the Year recipients, including the announcement year, book title, author, originating category, and publication details where specified. These selections reflect the award's evolution, with many winners originating from the Novel or First Novel categories, demonstrating fiction's frequent dominance (approximately 50% of total winners).[6]| Year | Book Title | Author | Publisher | Originating Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Elegies | Douglas Dunn | Faber & Faber | Poetry |
| 1986 | An Artist of the Floating World | Kazuo Ishiguro | Faber & Faber | Novel |
| 1987 | Under the Eye of the Clock | Christopher Nolan | Weidenfeld & Nicolson | Biography |
| 1988 | The Comforts of Madness | Paul Sayer | Constable | First Novel |
| 1989 | Coleridge: Early Visions | Richard Holmes | Hodder & Stoughton | Biography |
| 1990 | Hopeful Monsters | Nicholas Mosley | Secker & Warburg | Novel |
| 1991 | A Life of Picasso | John Richardson | Jonathan Cape | Biography |
| 1992 | Swing Hammer Swing! | Jeff Torrington | Secker & Warburg | First Novel |
| 1993 | Theory of War | Joan Brady | Andre Deutsch | Novel |
| 1994 | Felicia's Journey | William Trevor | Viking | Novel |
| 1995 | Behind the Scenes at the Museum | Kate Atkinson | Doubleday/Black Swan | First Novel |
| 1996 | The Spirit Level | Seamus Heaney | Faber & Faber | Poetry |
| 1997 | Tales from Ovid | Ted Hughes | Faber & Faber | Poetry |
| 1998 | Birthday Letters | Ted Hughes | Faber & Faber | Poetry |
| 1999 | Beowulf | Seamus Heaney | Faber & Faber | Poetry |
| 2000 | English Passengers | Matthew Kneale | Hamish Hamilton | Novel |
| 2001 | The Amber Spyglass | Philip Pullman | Scholastic | Children’s Book |
| 2002 | Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self | Claire Tomalin | Viking | Biography |
| 2003 | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Mark Haddon | Jonathan Cape | Novel |
| 2004 | Small Island | Andrea Levy | Headline | Novel |
| 2005 | Matisse: The Master | Hilary Spurling | Hamish Hamilton | Biography |
| 2006 | The Tenderness of Wolves | Stef Penney | Quercus | First Novel |
| 2007 | Day | A.L. Kennedy | Jonathan Cape | Novel |
| 2008 | The Secret Scripture | Sebastian Barry | Faber & Faber | Novel |
| 2009 | A Scattering | Christopher Reid | Faber & Faber | Poetry |
| 2010 | Of Mutability | Jo Shapcott | Faber & Faber | Poetry |
| 2011 | Pure | Andrew Miller | Sceptre | Novel |
| 2012 | Bring Up the Bodies | Hilary Mantel | Fourth Estate | Novel |
| 2013 | The Shock of the Fall | Nathan Filer | Borough Press (HarperCollins) | First Novel |
| 2014 | H is for Hawk | Helen Macdonald | Random House | Biography |
| 2015 | The Lie Tree | Frances Hardinge | Macmillan Children’s Books | Children’s Book |
| 2016 | Days Without End | Sebastian Barry | Faber & Faber | Novel |
| 2017 | Inside the Wave | Helen Dunmore | Bloodaxe Books | Poetry |
| 2018 | The Cut Out Girl | Bart van Es | Fig Tree Books | Biography |
| 2019 | The Volunteer | Jack Fairweather | WH Allen | Biography |
| 2020 | The Mermaid of Black Conch: A Love Story | Monique Roffey | Peepal Tree | Novel |
| 2021 | The Kids | Hannah Lowe | Bloodaxe Books | Poetry |