Honouring the achievements of the founding father of the historical novel, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is one of the UK’s most prestigious literary prizes. The winner receives £25,000 and shortlisted authors each receive £1,500. Since it was founded fifteen years ago by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Prize has awarded nearly £400,000 to writers and brought over 150 great novels to wider public attention.
The Walter Scott Prize celebrates quality of writing in the English language, and is open to novels published in the previous year in the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth. Reflecting the subtitle ‘Tis Sixty Years Since’ of Scott’s famous work Waverley, the majority of the storyline must have taken place at least 60 years ago.
The WSP judging panel is chaired by Katie Grant, and comprises James Holloway, Elizabeth Laird, James Naughtie, Kirsty Wark, and Saira Shah.
