The six books shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize, the UK’s most prestigious history writing prize, were announced this morning (5 September 2023).
The Wolfson History Prize celebrates the best historical non-fiction books from the past year. Bringing new stories from history to light, and challenging readers to rethink accepted historical narratives, the topical Wolfson History Prize shortlist explores themes that are pertinent to current world events.
Spanning centuries and continents, political and personal histories, the Wolfson History Prize 2023 shortlist takes readers from the plague-ridden streets of fourteenth-century Europe to the densely populated alleyways of Dickensian London, travels to the court of eighteenth-century China and the underground resistance movements of Nazi-occupied Europe, and journeys through the history of African and Caribbean people in Britain, via the history of the book itself.
The shortlist
- African and Caribbean People in Britain: A History by Hakim Adi
- The World the Plague Made: The Black Death and the Rise of Europe by James Belich
- The Perils of Interpreting: The Extraordinary Lives of Two Translators between Qing China and the British Empire by Henrietta Harrison
- Resistance: The Underground War in Europe 1939–1945 by Halik Kochanski
- Vagabonds: Life on the Streets of Nineteenth Century London by Oskar Jensen
- Portable Magic: A History of Books and their Readers by Emma Smith
David Cannadine, Chair of the Wolfson History Prize judges, said:
This year’s shortlist demonstrates the enduring power of history writing to shed light on the past, and also to bring new perspectives, empathy and nuance to our understanding of the present. The six titles cover a wide range of themes, from inequality to war and occupation and the effect of previous pandemics. Each book is commended because it is beautifully crafted, grounded in meticulous research and full of fascinating stories of people and places.
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said:
A common theme in this year’s shortlist is an exploration of how people and societies in the past have confronted fundamental, global issues: books with a distinct resonance for today’s challenges and preoccupations. We are delighted to share the 2023 shortlist, and celebrate books that bring new evidence, subjects and opinions alive for a wide audience.
The judges
Celebrated historians Mary Beard and Sudhir Hazareesingh joined the judging panel this year, working alongside fellow judges Richard Evans, Carole Hillenbrand, Diarmaid MacCulloch, and chair David Cannadine to narrow down the very best history writing in the UK from the past year to a shortlist of six books, from which one winner will be selected.
Shining a light on books that combine excellence in research with readability for a general audience, the Wolfson History Prize is now in its 51st year. The most valuable history writing prize in the UK, awarding a total of £75,000, the winner receives £50,000, and each of the five shortlisted authors receives £5,000.
The overall winner of the Wolfson History Prize 2023 will be revealed at a ceremony in central London on Monday 13 November 2023.
Get involved
If you work in a library or workplace and would like to promote the prize, you can download a free digital pack from our shop.
What do you think of the 2023 shortlisted titles? Which have you read and what will be added to your TBR pile? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #WolfsonHistoryPrize.
To learn more about the Wolfson History Prize head over to their website or connect on Twitter via @WolfsonHistory
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