We’re delighted to announce the HWA Crown Awards shortlists for 2022, with 18 books celebrating the best in historical writing, fiction and non-fiction, published in 2021-2022. There are three awards categories: HWA Gold Crown, HWA Non-fiction Crown, and HWA Debut Crown.
The books shortlisted for the HWA Crown Awards for 2022 are:
Gold Crown Award 2022 shortlist
Small Things Like These by Clare Keegan (Faber)
A family man in 1980s Ireland confronts the truth about the Magdalene laundries. A slight but incredibly powerful novel filled with wisdom about heroism, truth and hope.
A Winter War by Tim Leach (Head of Zeus)
In this extraordinary portrayal of a clash of cultures on the fringes of the Roman Empire, Tim Leach explores the society of the Sarmatians, a proud race of warrior men and women who only now are beginning to understand the might of the Roman army that is sworn to wipe them out. This is a cold, cold place at a time of crisis and the author understands his strange and charismatic subjects perfectly, once more taking his readers to an almost mythical place in ancient history.
The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed (Viking)
That the wrongful execution of Mahmood Mattan is still being talked about today makes this novel all the more poignant. The writing is masterful and the reader isn’t spared from the injustice that this man faced for refusing to become a ‘good immigrant’.
The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley (Bloomsbury)
An intricate, immersive tale set in an alternative Britain, where Napoleon won the war and French is spoken on the streets of London. With a central mystery, adventure on the high seas, romance, and incredible world building, what’s not to love?
The Great Passion by James Runcie (Bloomsbury)
The story of JS Bach through the eyes of a young, bullied chorister. A moving exploration of grief and the transcendental power of music.
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead (Doubleday)
The story of a female aviator and the actress who plays her character in a film a century later. This ambitious epic takes the reader on an incredible ride, from Montana to Los Angeles and on to wartime England and beyond. Incredible storytelling.
Antonia Senior, chair of the 2022 Gold Crown Award judges, says: “These six books represent everything marvellous in historical fiction. Between them they cover a cast sweep of human history; from Sarmatia in the second century AD to rural 1980s Ireland. All of them share a remarkable ability to move, to inform and to grip their readers from the first page to last.”
The judges for the 2022 Gold Crown Award are Antonia Senior, Kate Atherton, Stephen Baird, Louise Hare, Rachel Hore and Pip Kazan.
Non-fiction Crown Award 2022 shortlist
The Irish Assassins by Julie Kavanagh (Atlantic)
In this mesmerising account, Julie Kavanagh fully reintegrates the story of the Phoenix Park Murders into the wider history of the times. Crossing back and forth over the Irish Sea, this is a tale at once personal and political, told by a masterly storyteller.
Metaphysical Animals by Clare Mac Cumhaill and Rachael Wiseman (Vintage)
Acutely observed, often wry, Metaphysical Animals is a sparkling group biography of Iris Murdoch and three fellow philosophers who deserve to be remembered just as well: Mary Midgley, Philippa Foot, and Elizabeth Anscombe. The authors give us the bonus of a thoroughly readable philosophy lesson as they explore the trials, tribulations, and breakthroughs of these remarkable women.
The Library by Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen (Profile)
A wonderfully absorbing and wide-ranging account of the rise and fall, creation, and dispersal of libraries from Greek and Roman times to the present day.
Loot by Barnaby Phillips (Oneworld Publications)
A balanced and expertly-written history of how the world-famous Benin bronzes were stolen and their fate, which dives deep into the moral and ethical dilemmas of museums and collectors today.
The Searchers by Robert Sackville-West (Bloomsbury)
A compelling tale of a century of searching for those who did not return from the Great War. From seances to DNA, Robert Sackville-West takes the reader on an odyssey that transcends grief and shows us some of the best of humanity.
National Treasures by Caroline Shenton (John Murray)
An unfamiliar slice of WWII history highlights the propaganda value of national art collections as well as their safeguarding and conservation. A sharp eye for detail and anecdote celebrates an unusual story of unseen daring and determination.
Elizabeth Buchan, chair of the Non-fiction Crown judges, says: “The entries this year were staggeringly good. From the natural world to statistics and philosophy, via the riches of early European history to the decisive events of World War Two, the team was awed, beguiled and educated.”
The judges for this year’s Non-fiction Crown Award are Elizabeth Buchan, Jad Adams, Ben Buchan, Isabelle Grey, Jagjeet Lally and Timothy Philips.
Debut Crown Award 2022 shortlist
The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews (Bloomsbury)
An intriguing tale of the supernatural and suspected witchcraft that is fascinating, spine chilling, and creepy. Infused with gothic dread and gorgeously written with a heavy mist of dread throughout. A dark, sinister and eerie tale of superstition, myth and murder.
Moonlight & The Pearler’s Daughter by Lizzie Pook (Mantle)
Breathtaking adventure story and a moving testimony to the lengths we go to for the people we love. Set in the halcyon days of Australia’s lucrative pearl industry in the late 1800s. Atmospheric, eerie, fascinating, and with a great sense of place, mystery and intrigue.
The Deception of Harriet Fleet by Helen Scarlett (Quercus)
A chilling gothic Victorian mystery that is dark and brimming with suspense. Haunting and richly imagined, with a wild landscape, family secrets, and not one but two unforgettable heroines. A fabulous, engrossing, delightful read.
Hear No Evil by Sarah Smith (Two Roads)
Based on a landmark case in Scottish legal history, it combines crime fiction with a woman’s struggle to speak the truth. Beautifully written, striking, stylish and evocative, it illuminates a fascinating period in history.
The Plague Letters by VL Valentine (Viper/Profile Books)
A terrific, intriguingly twisty tale full of atmosphere and colourful characters set in the dark medical world of Restoration London. Readers are transported to the London of Charles II in a gripping whodunnit with a sinister twist. A terrific read.
The Spirit Engineer by AJ West (Duckworth Books)
Haunting, deeply moving and witty, The Spirit Engineer looks at the subject of spiritualism during the Edwardian period through the experiences of an incredibly troubled man. An atmospheric and haunting tale that covers some disturbing subjects. An amazing story that is Gothic and spooky at its best. Fantastic.
Ayo Onatade, chair of the Debut Crown judging panel, says: “A rich, varied mix of styles and periods made for a spectacular shortlist this year. All these titles are packed with vivid and immersive writing from exciting new authors and the judges were delighted by the range and quality of the entries.”
The judges for the 2022 Debut Crown Award are Ayo Onatade, Dan Bassett and Susan Heads.
Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors, who have stood out in a year when submissions increased in number.
And thank you to our three teams of hard-working judges. They now have to select one winning book in each of the categories.
The 2022 HWA Crown Award winners will be announced at the HWA Awards party on 23 November, 2022, and on Twitter, Facebook and here in Historia at 7.30 that evening.
And if you’d like to come to the party… you’re invited! It’s held at St Ethelburga’s Church in Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG from 6 to 9pm. Tickets are £15 each, and discounted tickets for HWA members are £5. Book through Eventbrite.
Follow #HWACrowns22 on Twitter
See the HWA Crown Awards 2022 longlists.
