The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction

Honouring the achievements of the founding father of the historical novel, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the world. The winner receives £25,000 and shortlisted authors each receive £1,500.

Books must be written in English and must have been first published in the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth, between 1st January and 31st December in the past year.

Books written in English by authors of British nationality first published outside the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth in 2024 are also eligible provided they are also published in the UK in that calendar year.

For the purposes of this prize, ‘historical’ means that the majority of the book, ie more than 50%, must be set at least 60 years before its publication date. 

Authors who have already won the prize twice are precluded from submitting a new work
until a period of seven years has elapsed since they last won the Prize. 

Books must be submitted by publishers. The submission of an author’s work by the
publisher will be taken as agreement by the author that they are willing for the submitted
work to be considered. Self-published books are not eligible.

Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction

Books must be submitted by publishers, and must have been published during the calendar year 2022.

There is no charge for submitting a book, but a fee of £1,200 + VAT per shortlisted title will be levied to contribute to promotion and marketing of the shortlist. By entering, publishers agree to pay this contribution should their book be shortlisted, and agree that future reprints of the book carry an approved Walter Scott Prize roundel on the front cover, which we will supply.



Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction

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