ARA Historical Novel Prize

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is an Australian novel competition organised and run by the Historical Novel Society Australasia. The first prize was awarded in 2020 and is awarded "only for published historical novels, that is, novels written in the Historical Fiction genre."[1]

The 2020 Prize only awarded novels in the Adult category. A "Children and Young Adults" category was introduced in 2021.

Definition

edit

The Historical Novel Society Australasia explained the boundaries of the prize as follows: "The definition of the genre set by the Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA) is a novel in which the majority of the narrative, ie more than 50% of the events described, has taken place at least 50 years before publication.

"Historical sub-genres considered to be historical fiction include historical mystery, historical romance, and historical fantasy and alternate history. Time-slip novels, multiple-time period novels, and parallel narrative novels are also considered historical fiction with flexibility to crossover between eras stretching from 50 years or more in the past until contemporary times provided more than 50% of the events described take place at least 50 years before publication."[1]

Announcement

edit

The longlists for the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize were announced on 4 September 2024.[2] The shortlists were announced on 2 October 2024, and the winners on 23 October 2024.[1]

Prize winners

edit
Year Category Author Title Publisher
2024[3] Adult Melissa Lucashenko Edenglassie University of Queensland Press
Children and Young Adult Beverley McWilliams Spies in the Sky Pantera Press
2023[4] Adult Gail Jones Salonika Burning Text Publishing
Children and Young Adult Amelia Mellor The Bookseller’s Apprentice Affirm Press
2022[5] Adult Tom Keneally Corporal Hitler's Pistol Vintage
Children and Young Adult Katrina Nannestad Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief HarperCollins
2021[6] Adult Jock Serong The Burning Island Text Publishing
Children and Young Adult Katrina Nannestad We are Wolves ABC Books
2020[7] Adult Mirandi Riwoe Stone Sky Gold Mountain University of Queensland Press

Shortlisted and Longlisted works

edit

Adult category

edit
Year Author Title Publisher Result
2024
Melissa Lucashenko Edenglassie University of Queensland Press Winner[3]
Lenny Bartulin The Unearthed Allen and Unwin Shortlisted[8]
Tony Birch Women & Children University of Queensland Press Shortlisted[8]
Lauren Chater The Beauties Simon & Schuster Longlisted[9]
Stephen Daisley A Better Place Text Publishing Longlisted[9]
Kate Grenville Restless Dolly Maunder Text Publishing Longlisted[9]
Jane Harrison The Visitors HarperCollins Longlisted[9]
Natasha Lester The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard Hachette Australia Longlisted[9]
Catherine McKinnon To Sing of War HarperCollins Longlisted[9]
2023
Gail Jones Salonika Burning Text Publishing Winner[4]
Fiona Kelly McGregor Iris Pan Macmillan Shortlisted[10]
Jock Serong The Settlement Text Publishing Shortlisted[10]
Robbie Arnott Limberlost Text Publishing Longlisted[11]
Robyn Cadwallader The Fire and the Rose HarperCollins Longlisted[11]
Robert Drewe Nimblefoot Hamish Hamilton Longlisted[11]
Alison Goodman The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies HarperCollins Longlisted[11]
Fiona McFarlane The Sun Walks Down Allen and Unwin Longlisted[11]
Pip Williams The Bookbinder of Jericho Affirm Press Longlisted[11]
2022
Tom Keneally Corporal Hitler's Pistol Penguin Books Winner[5]
Geraldine Brooks Horse Hachette Australia Shortlisted[12]
Robyn Mundy Cold Coast Ultimo Press Shortlisted[12]
Karen Brooks The Good Wife of Bath HarperCollins Longlisted[13]
Lauren Chater The Winter Dress Simon and Schuster Longlisted[13]
Steven Carroll Goodnight, Vivienne, Goodnight HarperCollins Longlisted[13]
Portland Jones Only Bird Above Fremantle Press Longlisted[13]
Kim Kelly The Rat Catcher Brio Books Longlisted[13]
David Whish-Wilson Sawdust House Fremantle Press Longlisted[13]
2021
Jock Serong The Burning Island Text Publishing Winner[6]
Anita Heiss Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray Simon and Schuster Shortlisted[14]
Gail Jones Our Shadows Text Publishing Shortlisted[14]
Stephen Conte The Tolstoy Estate HarperCollins Longlisted[15]
Kate Grenville A Room Made of Leaves Text Publishing Longlisted[15]
Anthony Hall The Last Convict Penguin Books Longlisted[15]
Robert Horne The Glass Harpoon Ginninderra Press Longlisted[15]
Ian Reid The Madwoman's Coat Framework Press Longlisted[15]
Lyn Yeowart The Silent Listener Penguin Books Longlisted[15]
2020[7]
Mirandi Riwoe Stone Sky Gold Mountain University of Queensland Press Winner
Sienna Brown Master of My Fate Penguin Books Shortlisted
Catherine Jinks Shepherd Text Publishing Shortlisted
Nigel Featherstone Bodies of Men Hachette Australia Longlisted
Dominic Smith The Electric Hotel Allen and Unwin Longlisted
Christos Tsiolkas Damascus Allen and Unwin Longlisted
Pip Williams The Dictionary of Lost Words Affirm Press Longlisted
Tara June Winch The Yield Penguin Books Longlisted

Children and Young Adult category

edit
Year Author Title Publisher Result
2024
Beverley McWilliams Spies in the Sky Pantera Press Winner[3]
Jackie French Secret Sparrow HarperCollins Shortlisted[16]
Rebecca Lim Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky Allen and Unwin Shortlisted[16]
Nicki Greenburg The Detective’s Guide to Paris Affirm Press Longlisted[17]
Katrina Nannestad Silver Linings ABC Books Longlisted[17]
Catherine Norton The Fortune Maker HarperCollins Longlisted[17]
Jackie Randall Only Two Self-Published Longlisted[17]
2023
Amelia Mellor The Bookseller's Apprentice Affirm Press Winner[4]
Suzanne Leal Running with Ivan HarperCollins Shortlisted[18]
Katrina Nannestad Waiting for the Storks ABC Books Shortlisted[18]
Jackie French The Great Gallipoli Escape HarperCollins Longlisted[19]
Ellie Marney The Killing Code Allen and Unwin Longlisted[19]
Lystra Rose The Upwelling Hachette Australia Longlisted[19]
Pamela Rushby The Mud Puddlers Walker Books Longlisted[19]
Philippa Werry Iris and Me Ahoy! An Imprint of The Cuba Press Longlisted[19]
Sue Whiting Tilda Walker Books Longlisted[19]
2022
Katrina Nannestad Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief HarperCollins Winner[5]
Brian Falkner Katipo Joe: Wolf’s Lair Scholastic New Zealand Shortlisted[20]
Claire Saxby The Wearing of the Green Walker Books Shortlisted[20]
Felice Arena The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan Penguin Books Longlisted[21]
Meg Caddy Slipping the Noose Text Publishing Longlisted[21]
Chloe Gong Our Violent Ends Hachette New Zealand Longlisted[21]
Lauren Keenan Amorangi and Millie’s Trip Through Time Huia Publishing Longlisted[21]
David Metzenthen Augustin and the Hot Air Balloon Ford Street Publishing Longlisted[21]
Pamela Rushby The Secret Battle Eagle Books Longlisted[21]
2021
Katrina Nannestad We are Wolves ABC Books Winner[6]
Amelia Mellor The Grandest Bookshop in the World Affirm Press Shortlisted[22]
Pamela Rushby The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle Walker Books Shortlisted[22]
Anna Ciddor The Boy Who Stepped Through Time Allen and Unwin Longlisted[23]
Jackie French Night Ride into Danger HarperCollins Longlisted[23]
Suzanne Gervay Heroes of the Secret Underground HarperCollins Longlisted[23]
Nicki Greenberg The Detective’s Guide to Ocean Travel Affirm Press Longlisted[23]
Cameron Nunn Echo in the Memory Walker Books Longlisted[23]
Richard Yaxley Harmony Scholastic Longlisted[23]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c ""ARA Historical Novel Prize"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  2. ^ ""2024 ARA Historical Novel Prise Longlists Announced"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c ""Melissa Lucashenko's novel Edenglassie wins $150,000 in book prizes in just 24 hours"". The Guardian, 23 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c ""The 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c ""The 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b c ""The 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b ""The 2020 ARA Historical Novel Prize"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b ""2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category Shortlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f ""2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category Longlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b ""The 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category Shortlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f ""The 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category Longlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  12. ^ a b ""The 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category Shortlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f ""The 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category Longlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  14. ^ a b ""The 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category Shortlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f ""The 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize Adult Category Longlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b ""2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category Shortlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d ""2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category Longlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  18. ^ a b ""The 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category Shortlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f ""The 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category Longlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  20. ^ a b ""The 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category Shortlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b c d e f ""The 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category Longlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  22. ^ a b ""The 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category Shortlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e f ""The 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category Longlist"". Historical Novel Society Australasia. Retrieved 26 September 2024.