Walter Scott Prize
The Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction was founded in 2009, and honours the achievements and legacy of Sir Walter Scott, the founding father of the historical novel. Sponsored by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the prize is worth £25,000 to the winner, and is awarded at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival in Melrose, in June every year.
The prize is the first book award to recognise outstanding work in this burgeoning genre, and was won in its inaugural year by Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, in 2011 by Andrea Levy’s The Long Song was the victor and the 2012 prize was won by Sebastian Barry's On Canaan's Side.
For the purposes of the Prize, a historical novel means that the majority of the events described take place at least 60 years before the publication of the novel, and therefore stand outside any mature personal experience of the author.
Submissions must be made by publishers, and the prize opens for entry in December for books published in that year. The award is open to historical novels first published in the United Kingdom, Ireland, or the Commonwealth. Publishers may submit up to three titles per imprint.
The prize rules and submission forms are available from: Rebecca Salt, the Walter Scott Prize, tel. 01620 829 800 or email rebecca@stonehillsalt.co.uk
WSP Author Spotlight - Hilary Mantel
A look at the Walter Scott Prize Nominees
WSP Author Spotlight - Thomas Keneally
Australian author Thomas Keneally is perhaps best known as author of Booker Prize winning Schindlers Ark. His new novel, The Daughters of Mars, is set during WW1. It is a profoundly affecting tale of love, courage and sacrifice and a searing evocation of the First World War from a fresh, female perspective…
WSP Author Spotlight - Pat Barker
Over the next six weeks, we’ll be spotlighting our Walter Scott Prize shortlisted authors and their novels. First up is Pat Barker who will be joining us at the Award Event. We’re delighted that she’s also taking part in the Britain’s Best Historical Fiction session on Saturday evening. Pat’s novel Toby’s Room, is a compelling read in which she revisits the battlefields of World War I…
Shortlist for 2013 Walter Scott Prize Announced
The decision is in and we have a short-list for the 2013 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction! We have six fantastic novels in contention, with settings ranging from Tudor and Restoration England to the slums of Victorian London, and from the bloody battlefields of the Western Front in World War One to the highlands of Malaysia during the ‘Malayan Emergency’...
Shortlist Announcement Date Set
Walter Scott Prize opens for entries
Entries are now open for the 2013 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, which honours books published in 2012. The closing date for submissions is 31st January 2013. Submissions may only be made by publishers, and self-published work is not eligible. The Judges will decide on a shortlist in April 2013. For a full set of Prize Rules and a Submission Form, please contact Rebecca Salt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Judges meet for final session
JUDGES MEET FOR FINAL PRIZE SESSION
The panel of six judges met today in Edinburgh to consider the final six books on the Walter Scott Prize 2012 shortlist, and to choose a winner.
Sebastian Barry wins Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
The Irish author Sebastian Barry has won the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his 'epic and intimate' novel On Canaan's Side'.
Walter Scott Prize winner announced!
Three Historical Authors on One Stage!
What an oppertunity! Alan Hollinghurst, Andrew Miller and Sebastian Barry all on the same stage! Will one of them be the winner of the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction?
Barry Unsworth, Scott Prize Nominee, dies at 81
The Walter Scott Prize committee were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Barry Unsworth earlier this week. His book The Quality of Mercy has been shortlisted for this year’s Walter Scott Prize, which will be announced on June 16th.
Author Spotlight - Esi Edugyan
Our 6th and final nominated author is another Canadian, Esi Edugyan. Her latest novel, Half-Blood Blues is described as ‘an electric, heart-breaking story about music, race, love and loyalty, and the sacrifices we ask of ourselves, and demand of others, in the name of art.’
Author Spotlight - Barry Unswoth
Barry Unsworth’s Scott Prize nominated novel, The Quality of Mercy is the long awaited stunning sequel to the 1992 Booker-winning Sacred Hunger.
Author Spotlight - Patrick deWitt
Acclaimed Canadian novelist Patrick deWitt, is shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his second novel, The Sisters Brothers, which was also shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker Prize.
Author Spotlight - Alan Hollinghurst
Acclaimed novelist and Walter Scott Prize nominee Alan Hollinghurst has confirmed he is joining us at this year’s Scott Prize award ceremony. Alan will be appearing at the historical fiction event as part of our illustrious panel which includes fellow nominees, Andrew Miller and Sebastian Barry!
Author Spotlight - Sebastian Barry
JUST CONFIRMED - Costa Prize Winner and Walter Scott Prize nominated author, Sebastian Barry is joining us in Melrose, not only for the award ceremony but as part of our panel event, on Historical Fiction…..
Walter Scott Prize Author Spotlight - Andrew Miller
As one of the six authors shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction, we are delighted to welcome Andrew to the Borders Book Festival, not only to take part in the prize ceremony, but also to do a solo event about his hugely popular sixth novel, Pure…..
2012 Walter Scott Prize News
The shortlist for the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction was announced by the Duke of Buccleuch, at the launch of the Borders Book Festival programme in Melrose. With settings ranging from pre-revolutionary France to the Wild West of the 1850s, via two World Wars, the shortlist of six books was chosen by a new panel of judges from novels published during 2011.
Walter Scott Prize