Our Book Club
Literary Awards
Man Booker Prize | Pulitzer Prize | Nobel Prize for Literature | Orange Prize for Fiction | Commonwealth Writers' Prize | Miles Franklin Literary Award | Costa Book Awards | Other Literary Awards |
If you would like to be kept up to date with all our latest news, you can subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter or if you have any suggestions or books that you would like us to review, please feel free to Contact Us.
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize was originally created to promote the finest fiction by rewarding the very best book of the year. The judging panel is selected each year and the criteria for the full-length novel is that the author must be a citizen of the Commonwealth (including the Republic of Ireland) and must be published in the year of the prize. The work must be original and in English (not translated). The 2012 Man Booker will be announced on 16 October 2012.
 2011 |
 2010 |
 2009 |
 2008 |
 2007 |
 2006 |
 2005 |
 2004 |
 2003 |
 2002 |
 Lost |
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prizes were created in 1917 by Joseph Pulitzer to honour American journalism and the arts and is separated into four prizes: journalism, letters, drama, education and travelling scholarships.
The full listing for the 2011 Puliter Prize Winners is available here.
 2011 |
 2010 |
 2009 |
 2008 |
 2007 |
 2006 |
 2005 |
2004 |
 2004 |
 2003 |
 2002 |
Nobel Prize for Literature
Since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for literature in memory of the Nobel Prize founder, Alfred Nobel who devoted his life to achievement. The Nobel Prize currently carries a cash prize of 10 million Swedish Kroner per full Nobel Prize and is awarded to the person or people who, in the literary field, have produced "the most outstanding work in an ideal direction". The Laureate should be determined by "the Academy in Stockholm", which was specified by the statutes of the Nobel Foundation to mean the Swedish Academy. These statutes defined literature as "not only belles-lettres, but also other writings which, by virtue of their form and style, possess literary value". At the same time, the restriction to works presented " during the preceding year" was softened: "older works" could be considered "if their significance has not become apparent until recently". It was also stated that candidates must be nominated in writing by those entitled to do so before 1 February each year.
 2011 |
 2010 |
 2009 |
 2008 |
 2007 |
 2006 |
 2005 |
 2004 |
 2003 |
 2002 |
Orange Prize for Fiction
The Orange Prize was launched in 1996 and celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in women's writing from throughout the world.
 2011 |
 2010 |
 2009 |
 2008 |
 2007 |
 2006 |
 2005 |
 2004 |
 2003 |
 2003 |
Commonwealth Writers Prize
Outstanding literary talent is awarded a Commonwealth Writers' Prize to encourage fiction and provide greater coverage to writers outside their country of origin. The main aim of the prize is to discover and promote up-and-coming and under-recognised writers as well as developing cultural appreciation.
 2011 |
 2011 |
 2010 |
 2010 |
 2009 |
 2009 |
 2008 |
 2008 |
 2007 |
 2007 |
 2006 |
 2006 |
 2005 |
2005 |
Miles Franklin Literary Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award was established in 1954 and is given for literature that best represents Australian life in any of its phases. Since the first award in 1957, the award aims to encourage authors who have delivered an immense contribution to the richness of Australian cultural life.
 2011 |
 2010 |
 2009 |
 2008 |
 2007 |
 2006 |
 2005 |
 2004 |
 2003 |
 2003 |
The Costa Book Awards
Commencing in 1971, as the Whitbread Literary Awards which subsequently changed to Whitbread Book Awards and since 2006 The Costa Book Awards has become one of the most prestigious and popular literary prizes in the UK and recognises some of the most enjoyable books of the year by writers based in the UK and Ireland. The Costa Book Awards has five categories: First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book. One of these five books is selected as the overall winner of the Book of the Year.
The winner for the Costa Book Awards 2011 saw a two-way tussle between fact and fiction with Andrew Miller the eventual winner for his sixth novel, Pure.
Other Literary Awards
There are hundreds if not thousands of literary awards globally, so we have selected a few that catch our eye every now and again and if you are interested in reading something different try some of these.
US National Book Award for Fiction
The US National Book Award for Fiction will be announced on 16 November 2011.
The 2011 finalists include:-
Fiction: Andrew Krivak, Tea Obreht, Julie Otsuka, Edith Pearlman, Jesmyn Ward.
Non-Fiction: Deborah Baker, mary Gabriel, Stephen Greenblatt, Manning Marable, Lauren Redniss.
Poetry: Nikky Finney, Yusef Komunyakaa, Carl Phillips, Adrienne Rich and Bruce Smith.
Young People's Literary: Franny Billingsley, Debby Dahl Edwardson, Thanhha Lai, Albert Marrin and Grary Schmidt.
The 2010 Fiction award went to Jaimy Gordon for Lord of Misrule and the 2010 Non-Fiction Award was won by Patti Smith for Just Kids.
Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Awards
On 16 February 2012, Frederick Forsyth was awarded the Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award for his standards of research-based authenticity in thrillers and sustained excellence. The deadline for the remaining 2012 Daggers is approaching with entries closing on 29 February 2012.
Crooked Letter, crooked Letter by Tom Franklin is the winner of the 2011 Gold Dagger award. The judges called his novel a poignant suspense novel drenched in the languid atmosphere of small-town Mississippi where police investigate the murder of a local teenage girl. Three other authors were shortlisted for this year’s coveted prize: Steve Hamilton - The Lock Artist, A.D. Miller - Snowdrops and Denise Mina - The End of the Wasp Season.
IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
Let the Great World Spin by Colin McCann is the winner of the 2011 IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards. This novel is a hurricane of a book, whirling around the streets of New York and beyond, capturing souls within its twists, carrying them high in the air, rattling their very bones until their secrets and shameful pasts, their moments of kindness and generosity, pour onto the ground below and define the people of a borough, a city, a country and a world without judgment or prejudice, but with the compassion and humanity that only a great writer can provide. The 2012 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award shortlist has been announced (click here for more information) and includes Room by Emma Donoghue and Skippy Dies by Paul Murray.
Australian Prime Minister's Literary Awards
On 8 July 2011, the Australian Prime Minister announced the winners of the 2011 Prime Minister's Literary Awards which was created to recognise literary excellence in Australian fiction, non-fiction, young adult fiction and children’s fiction.
Traitor – Stephen Daisley (fiction); The Hard Light of Day: An artist’s story of friendships in Arrernte Country – Rod Moss (non-fiction), Graffiti Moon – Cath Crowley (Young adult fiction) and Shake a Leg – by Boori Monty Pryor and illustrator Jan Ormerod (Children's fiction)
The winners of the Australian Prime Minister's Literary Awards for 2010 were; Dog Boy by Eva Hornung (fiction), The Colony by Grace Karskens (non-fiction) and Confessions of a Liar, Thief and Failed Sex God by Bill Condon (young adult fiction).
Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
It seems like there is a lot of publicity in regards to book prizes lately and an even bigger boom for Latin American novestlists. The Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2011 honours the best work of fiction by a living author, which has been translated into English from any other language and published in the United Kingdom during 2010. Uniquely, The winner for the The Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2011 has been awarded to Peruvian author Santiago Roncagliolo for his third novel, Red April (Atlantic Books). At 36, Roncagliolo is the youngest-ever author, as well as the first from Peru, to win the Prize.
Waterstone's Children's Book Prize
The Waterston's Children's Book Prize was won by Sita Brahmachari (Artichoke Hearts). Artichoke Hearts is Sita's first novel for children. Artichoke Hearts is about twelve-year-old Mira who comes from a chaotic, artistic and outspoken family where it's not always easy to be heard. As her beloved Nana Josie's health declines, Mira begins to discover the secrets of those around her, and also starts to keep some of her own. She is drawn to mysterious Jide, a boy who is clearly hiding a troubled past and has grown hardened layers - like those of an artichoke - around his heart. As Mira is experiencing grief for the first time, she is also discovering the wondrous and often mystical world around her. An incredibly insightful, honest novel exploring the delicate balance, and often injustice, of life and death - but at its heart is a celebration of friendship, culture - and life.