Wales Book of the Year

Welsh literary award

Award

Wales Book of the Year

Awarded for| Best Welsh and English language works by Welsh or Welsh interest authors
Location| Cardiff, Wales
Country| Wales
Presented by| Literature Wales
First award| 1992
Website| literaturewales.org/our-projects/wales-book-year

The Wales Book of the Year is a Welsh literary award given annually to the best Welsh and English language works in the fields of fiction and literary criticism by Welsh or Welsh interest authors. Established in 1992, the awards are currently administered by Literature Wales, and supported by the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government and the Welsh Books Council.

## Competition format

[edit]

The longlist of ten works in each language is published in April and the shortlist of three works in each language at the Hay Festival in May. The winners are announced in June or July. Since 2006, the winners have each received £10,000. From 2007, four runners-up (two in each language) also each receive £1000. In 2009, Media Wales sponsored a voted "People's Choice" award for the English-language works.[1]

The format was again changed in 2012, expanding the entries to three categories, fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry; with English and Welsh language winners in each field.[2] In 2019, a sub-category for books for children and young people was added, to be awarded from the 2020 award onwards.[3] An overall winner in each language is still chosen.

Regarding eligibility, the competition specifically excludes self-published authors.[4] The Welsh national book award therefore differs from Ireland's national book award, since the latter does not preclude self-published titles from being nominated.[5]

## Winners

[edit]

### English language

[edit]

Year  | Author  | Title  | Genre  | Publisher  | Reference

|
|
|
|
|

2024  | Tom Bullough | Sarn Helen: A Journey Through Wales, Past, Present and Future | Non-fiction  | Granta |

[6]

2023  | Caryl Lewis | Drift | Fiction  | Doubleday |

[7]

2022  | Nadifa Mohamed | The Fortune Men | Fiction  | Viking, Penguin Random House |

[8]

2021  | Catrin Kean | Salt | Fiction  | Gomer |

[9]

2020  | Niall Griffiths | Broken Ghost | Fiction  | Jonathan Cape |

[10]

2019  | Ailbhe Darcy | Insistence | Poetry  | Bloodaxe Books |

[11]

2018  | Robert Minhinnick | Diary of the Last Man | Poetry  | Carcanet |

[12]

2017  | Alys Conran | Pigeon | Fiction  | Parthian |

[13]

2016  | Thomas Morris | We Don't Know What We're Doing | Fiction  | Faber and Faber |

[14]

2015  | Patrick McGuinness | Other People's Countries | Non-fiction  | Jonathan Cape |

[15]

2014  | Owen Sheers | Pink Mist | Poetry  | Faber and Faber |
2013  | Rhian Edwards | Clueless Dogs | Poetry  | Seren |

[16]

2012  | Patrick McGuinness | The Last Hundred Days | Fiction  | Seren |

[17]

2011  | John Harrison | Cloud Road | Non-fiction  | Parthian |
2010  | Philip Gross | I Spy Pinhole Eye | Poetry  | Cinnamon |
2009  | Deborah Kay Davies | Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful | Fiction  | Parthian |
2008  | Dannie Abse | The Presence | Non-fiction  | Hutchinson |
2007  | Lloyd Jones | Mr Cassini | Fiction  | Seren |
2006  | Robert Minhinnick | To Babel and Back | Fiction  | Seren |
2005  | Owen Sheers | The Dust Diaries | Non-fiction  | Faber and Faber |
2004  | Niall Griffiths | Stump | Fiction  | Jonathan Cape |
2003  | Charlotte Williams | Sugar and Slate | Non-fiction  | Planet |
2002  | Stevie Davies | The Element of Water | Fiction  | The Women's Press |
2001  | Stephen Knight | Mr Schnitzel | Fiction  | Viking |
2000  | Sheenagh Pugh | Stonelight | Poetry  | Seren |
1999  | Emyr Humphreys | The Gift of a Daughter | Fiction  | Seren |
1998  | Mike Jenkins | Wanting to Belong | Fiction  | Seren |
1997  | Siân James | Not Singing Exactly | Fiction  | Honno |
1996  | Nigel Jenkins | Gwalia in Khasia | Non-fiction  | Gomer |
1995  | Duncan Bush | Masks | Poetry  | Seren |
1994  | Paul Ferris | Caitlin: The Life of Caitlin Thomas | Non-fiction  | Hutchinson |
1993  | Robert Minhinnick | Watching the Fire Eater | Non-fiction  | Seren |
1992  | Emyr Humphreys | Bonds of Attachment | Fiction  | Macdonald/Sphere |

Creative Non-fiction

* 2016: Jasmine Donahaye Losing Israel (Seren)[14]
* 2014: Meic Stephens Rhys Davies: A Writer's Life
* 2012: Richard Gwyn The Vagabond's Breakfast (Alcemi)

Roland Mathias Poetry Award (discontinued)[18]

* 2019 Ailbhe Darcy, Insistence (Bloodaxe Books)[11]
* 2016 Philip Gross – Love Songs of Carbon (Bloodaxe Books)[14]
* 2015 Tiffany Atkinson – So Many Moving Parts (Bloodaxe Books)[15]
* 2014 Owen Sheers – Pink Mist (Faber & Faber)
* 2012 Gwyneth Lewis – Sparrow Tree (Bloodaxe Books)

### Welsh language

[edit]

Fiction[19]

* 2024: Mari George, Sut i Ddofi Corryn[6]
* 2023: Llŷr Titus, Pridd[7]
* 2022: Ffion Dafis, Mori[20]
* 2021: Megan Angharad Hunter, tu ôl i'r awyr (Y Lolfa) [21]
* 2020: Ifan Morgan Jones, Babel[22]
* 2019: Manon Steffan Ros, Llyfr Glas Nebo (Y Lolfa)[11]
* 2016: Caryl Lewis Y Bwthyn[14]
* 2015: Gareth F. Williams Awst yn Anogia (Gwasg Gwynedd)[15]
* 2014: Ioan Kidd Dewis (Gomer)
* 2013: Heini Gruffudd, Yr Erlid [16]
* 2012: Jon Gower, Y Storiwr (Gomer)[17]
* 2011: Ned Thomas, Bydoedd (Y Lolfa)
* 2010: John Davies, Cymru: Y 100 lle i'w gweld cyn marw (Y Lolfa)
* 2009: Wiliam Owen Roberts Petrograd (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
* 2008: Gareth Miles Y Proffwyd a'l Ddwy Jesebel (Hutchinson)
* 2007: Llwyd Owen Ffydd Gobaith Cariad (Y Lolfa)
* 2006: Rhys Evans Gwynfor: Rhag Pob Brad (Y Lolfa)
* 2005: Caryl Lewis Martha, Jac a Sianco (Y Lolfa)
* 2004: Jerry Hunter Llwch Cenhedloedd (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch)
* 2003: Angharad Price O! Tyn y Gorchudd (Gomer)
* 2002: Grahame Davies Cadwyni Rhyddid (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
* 2001: Owen Martell Cadw dy ffydd, brawd (Gomer)
* 2000: Gwyneth Lewis Y Llofrudd Iaith (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
* 1999: R. M. Jones Ysbryd y Cwlwm: Delwedd y Genedl yn ein Llenyddiaeth (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)
* 1998: Iwan Llwyd Dan Ddylanwad (Gwasg Tâf)
* 1997: Gerwyn Wiliams Tir Neb: Rhyddiaith Gymraeg a’r Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)
* 1996: Sonia Edwards Glöynnod (Gwasg Gwynedd)
* 1995: Aled Islwyn Unigolion, Unigeddau (Gomer)
* 1994: T. Robin Chapman W.J. Gruffydd (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)
* 1993: Robin Llywelyn Seren Wen ar Gefndir Gwyn (Gomer)
* 1992: Gerallt Lloyd Owen Cilmeri (Gwasg Gwynedd)

Creative non-fiction

* 2016: Gruffydd Aled Williams Dyddiau Olaf Owain Glyndŵr (Y Lolfa)[14]
* 2014: Alan Llwyd Bob: Cofiant R. Williams Parry 1884 – 1956 (Gomer)
* 2012: Allan James John Morris-Jones[23]

Roland Mathias Poetry Award

* 2016: Mererid Hopwood Nes Draw (Gwasg Gomer)[14]
* 2014: Christine James Rhwng y Llinellau (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
* 2012: Karen Owen Siarad Trwy’i Het[23]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Academi: Wales Book of the Year Longlists Announced (accessed 23 April 2009)
2. ^ "Shortlist for Wales Book of the Year 2012 unveiled". BBC News. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
3. ^ "Wales Book of the Year Award 2020". Literature Wales. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
4. ^ "Eligibility Criteria". Literature Wales. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
5. ^ "General Eligibility Guidelines". Retrieved 28 January 2016.
6. ^ a b Matilda Battersby (4 July 2024). "Wins for Tom Bullough and Mari George at Wales Book of the Year 2024". The Bookseller. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
7. ^ a b "Caryl Lewis and Llŷr Titus win Wales Book of the Year Award 2023". Literature Wales. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
8. ^ "Nadifa Mohamed's The Fortune Men is the 2022 Wales Book of the Year". Literature Wales. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
9. ^ "Catrin Kean's Salt wins the 2021 Wales Book of the Year Award". Literature Wales. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
10. ^ "Niall Griffiths' Broken Ghost wins the 2020 Wales Book of the Year Award". Literature Wales. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
11. ^ a b c Katie Mansfield (20 June 2019). "Poet triumphs at Wales Book of the Year Awards". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
12. ^ "Wales Book of the year Winners 2018 - Literature Wales". Literature Wales. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
13. ^ "Wales Book of the Year winner revealed". BBC News. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
14. ^ a b c d e f "Wales Book of the Year 2016: A hat-trick for Thomas Morris' debut collection". Literature Wales. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
15. ^ a b c "Patrick McGuinness wins second Welsh Book of the Year award". BBC News. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
16. ^ a b "Wales Book of the Year: Rhian Edwards' Clueless Dogs wins hat-trick". BBC News. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
17. ^ a b "The Last Hundred Days is Wales Book of the Year in English language". BBC News. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
18. ^ "Roland Mathias Poetry Prize". Brecknock Society. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
19. ^ Academi: Wales Book of the Year: Past Winners and Judges (Welsh language)
20. ^ "Welsh-language Wales Book of the Year 2022 Winners". Literature Wales. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
21. ^ "Wales Book of the Year".
22. ^ "Wales Book of the Year 2020". Literature Wales. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
23. ^ a b Price, Karen (12 July 2012). "Patrick McGuinness named winner of Wales Book of the Year Award 2012". walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

## External links

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* Literature Wales: Wales Book of the Year
* WalesOnline: Book of the year
* Wales Book of the Year at lovethebook