The shortlist for the prestigious Winston Graham Historical Prize has been unveiled, highlighting six exceptional historical novels set in the UK and Ireland, each offering a rich sense of time and place.
The annual prize, established through a bequest from the late Poldark author Winston Graham to the Royal Institution of Cornwall (RIC), celebrates outstanding historical fiction. The winner will receive a £3,000 prize, with the announcement set for June 11 at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery.
To qualify for the prize, novels must be published in the UK within the past year, set at least 60 years ago in the UK or Ireland, and authored by a UK-based writer. After careful consideration by a readers’ committee, six finalists have emerged from a competitive field:
Mother Naked by Glen James Brown – Set during the Black Death and Peasant’s Revolt, this novel follows a wandering minstrel inspired by a historical entry in Durham’s Cathedral rolls.
A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike – In this debut, a group of medieval English characters plot an audacious hoax to escape social injustice.
The Book of Days by Francesca Kay – This tale unfolds in a Tudor manor, where a noblewoman contemplates the passing of time and her husband’s death amid the Reformation.
Clear by Carys Davies – Set in 19th century Shetland, this novel explores isolation and the transformative power of unexpected human connection.
Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor – Against the backdrop of the approaching Second World War, this novel addresses themes of belonging and betrayal on the Welsh coast.
The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller – Set during one of the coldest winters in recent memory, this story delves into the emotional depths of a small village in the 1960s.
The winner will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges, including academic Peggotty Graham, the daughter-in-law of Winston Graham; writer Lamorna Ash; Falmouth Book Festival organiser Colin Midson; and award-winning authors Francis Spufford and Charlotte Hobson, who serves as panel chair. Hobson described the shortlist as “excitingly varied, strange, and wonderful.”
Winston Graham, who lived in Cornwall for 34 years, was known for his deep connection to the region. His Poldark series, widely celebrated for evoking the landscape of Cornwall, continues to resonate with readers worldwide. The prize, previously limited to Cornwall, was expanded nationally in 2024, with last year’s winner, Benjamin Myers, receiving the award for Cuddy, a novel about St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne.
Reflecting on his win, Myers said, “Winning the prize felt like validation and a just reward. Writing novels is a mad folly, but when it all comes together and one’s book is recognised in such a public way, everything feels more than worth the efforts involved.”
The winner of the 2025 Winston Graham Historical Prize will be announced at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery on June 11.
