Hawthornden Prize
A British literary award for imaginative literature in English, including poetry, novels, history, biography, and creative non-fiction. Established in 1919. Prize of £25,000.
- Established
- 1919
- Organizer
- Hawthornden Foundation (current operator). Formerly Hawthornden Trust. Founder: Alice Warrender, later supported by Drue Heinz foundation.
- Category
- Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
- Selection Method
- Selection
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Announcement Period
- around July
- Status
- Active
Description
The Hawthornden Prize is a British literary award established in 1919 by Alice Warrender, awarded annually to British, Irish, or UK-based writers for 'imaginative literature' (poetry, novels, short stories, history, biography, creative nonfiction, etc.) published in English in the previous year. Translated works are ineligible, and past winners are excluded from the shortlist. No public call for entries; winners are determined by committee selection. Initially operated by Hawthornden Trust, now managed by Hawthornden Foundation. Prize amount varies by period: £100 in 1936, £2,000 in 1995, £15,000 in 2017. There have been gap years without winners (e.g., 1945–57, 1959, 1966, 1971–73, 1984–87).
Prize
- Main Prize
- Monetary prize and prestige. Prize money as of 2017: £15,000 (GBP).
- Cash Prize
- 15,000 GBP
- Prestige and recognition (media coverage, etc.)
- Past winners excluded from future shortlists (selection rules)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collection and selection of candidate works (no public call) | Judges appointed by Hawthornden Foundation (number and composition may not be disclosed) | — | — |
| Shortlist creation | Selection committee creates shortlist from candidates | — | — |
| Final selection and winner determination | Judges (final decision) | — | Announced on Hawthornden Foundation official website and major media |
Criteria
- Originality and creativity as 'imaginative literature'
- Quality and sophistication of style and expression
- Structure of the work and depth of themes
- Must be original English-language work (translations ineligible)
- Publication year must be the previous calendar year
- Author must be British, Irish, or UK-based
Application Tips
Dos
- Publish the work in English (translations ineligible)
- Ensure the work reaches the judges or foundation through publishers or contacts (no public call)
- Confirm the work was published in the previous year
- Enhance quality of imagination, style, and structure
Don''ts
- Expect translated works to be eligible (ineligible)
- Attempt direct personal submission (no public call)
- Attempt to re-submit past winning works (winners excluded from shortlists)
From Judges
- Originality and stylistic accomplishment are highly valued
- Works showing creativity unbound by genre constraints are appreciated
- Prioritize consistency and clarity of expression in the work
Related Awards
- James Tait Black Memorial Prize
- List of British literary awards