Walter Scott Prize


The Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction is a British literary award founded in 2010. At £25,000, it is one of the largest literary awards in the UK. The award was created by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, whose ancestors were closely linked to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, who is generally considered the originator of historical fiction with the novel Waverley in 1814.
Eligible books must have been first published in the UK, Ireland or Commonwealth in the preceding year. For the purpose of the award, historical fiction is defined as being that where the main events take place more than 60 years ago, i.e. outside of any mature personal experience of the author. The winner is announced each June at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose.

Winners and shortlist

Blue Ribbon = winner
Entries sorted alphabetically by surname including the winner.

2010

The longlist was unpublished. The shortlist was announced 1 April 2010 and the winner was announced 19 June 2010 as part of the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival which took place at Sir Walter Scott's historic home Abbotsford House in Scotland.
The longlist was unpublished. The shortlist was announced on 1 April and the winner was announced on 19 June:
The longlist was unpublished. The shortlist was announced on 4 April 2012 and the winner was announced on 16 June.
The longlist was unpublished. The shortlist was announced on 18 April 2013 and the winner was announced on 14 June 2013.
The longlist was unpublished. The shortlist was announced 4 April 2014, and the winner was announced at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland, on 13 June.
The longlist was announced 25 February 2015. The shortlist was announced 24 March 2015. The winner was announced at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland, on 13 June.
The longlist was announced 25 February 2016. The shortlist was announced 23 March 2016. The winner was announced 18 June 2016 at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival.
The longlist was announced 22 February 2017. The shortlist was announced 28 March 2017. The winner was announced 17 June 2017 at the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival, Melrose.
The longlist was announced 1 March 2018. The shortlist was announced 18 April 2018. The winner was announced 16 June 2018 at the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival.
The longlist was announced 6 March 2019. The shortlist was announced on 2 April 2019. The winner was announced at the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland on 15 June 2019.
The longlist was announced 9 March 2020. The shortlist was announced 31 March. The winner was announced 12 June.