The Sir Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is an annual literary award in the United Kingdom. It is presented to a work of adult historical fiction set at any time in the past, written in English by an author of any nationality. The prize was established in 2010 and is administered by the Historical Writers' Association of Great Britain. The winner of the award receives a trophy and a cash prize of £25,000.
The Sir Walter Scott Prize is named after the Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832), who is widely considered to be the father of the historical novel. Scott's novels, such as "Ivanhoe" (1819) and "Rob Roy" (1817), are set in historical periods ranging from the Middle Ages to the early 19th century and are known for their rich characterizations, accurate historical detail, and exciting plots.
The Scott Prize aims to celebrate and promote historical fiction of the highest literary quality. The judging panel for the award consists of a mix of historians, academics, and literary critics, who consider a wide range of factors in selecting the winning book, including historical accuracy, literary merit, and originality. The Scott Prize is seen as an important accolade for historical fiction writers, and it has helped to raise the profile of the genre in recent years.
The first winner of the Scott Prize was Hilary Mantel for her novel "Wolf Hall" (2009), which was set during the reign of King Henry VIII of England. Mantel went on to win the prize again in 2012 for her novel "Bring Up the Bodies" (2012), the sequel to "Wolf Hall." Other notable winners of the Scott Prize include Sebastian Barry, Julian Barnes, and Amitav Ghosh.
The Sir Walter Scott Prize is an important literary award that celebrates and promotes historical fiction. It has helped to raise the profile of the genre and recognizes the achievements of some of the world's most talented historical fiction writers.