Wolfson History Prize
うるふそんれきししょう
An annual British history prize (established 1972) to promote excellence in history books for general readers. Operated by the Wolfson Foundation.
HistoryLiterary awardAcademic books
- Established
- 1972
- Organizer
- Wolfson Foundation
- Category
- Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
- Selection Method
- Recommendation
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Active
Description
The Wolfson History Prize is a UK literary award for history books, established in 1972 by the Wolfson Foundation, to encourage excellence in readable and scholarly history books aimed at the general public. Typically 2-3 books win annually, with an occasional Oeuvre Prize awarded to honor an individual's body of work. Eligibility includes the book being published in the UK, and the author being a British subject (usually UK resident) at the time of award. Judging is by a panel of eminent historians, with winners announced around the summer following publication year.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Main winners receive prize money. The amount has increased in recent years, reported as £50,000 (Winner) as of 2022.
- Cash Prize
- 50,000 GBP
- Usually 2-3 winners
- Occasional Oeuvre Prize (lifetime achievement)
- Shortlist selected (recently 5 entries)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry/Nomination | Operated by Wolfson Foundation. Accepts recommendations and submissions from publishers and relevant parties (generally nomination-based rather than open entry) | null | Internal acceptance and eligibility review |
| Longlist/Primary selection | Selection committee (panel of eminent historians) | null | Internal decision. May be announced on official site etc. |
| Shortlist selection | Same panel (typically 5 shortlisted since 2016) | null | Shortlist usually announced spring to early summer |
| Final judging/Winner decision | Judging panel (under Wolfson Foundation) | null | Winners announced on official site and press in summer (usually June) |
Entry/Nomination
Judges
Operated by Wolfson Foundation. Accepts recommendations and submissions from publishers and relevant parties (generally nomination-based rather than open entry)
Pass Rate
null
Announcement
Internal acceptance and eligibility review
Longlist/Primary selection
Judges
Selection committee (panel of eminent historians)
Pass Rate
null
Announcement
Internal decision. May be announced on official site etc.
Shortlist selection
Judges
Same panel (typically 5 shortlisted since 2016)
Pass Rate
null
Announcement
Shortlist usually announced spring to early summer
Final judging/Winner decision
Judges
Judging panel (under Wolfson Foundation)
Pass Rate
null
Announcement
Winners announced on official site and press in summer (usually June)
Criteria
- Readable for general readers while academically rigorous
- Book published in the UK
- Author is British subject at award time or meets residency requirements
- Quality of research, originality, and communication power (appeal as readable material)
Application Tips
Dos
- Submit formally through publishers or relevant parties (often not open entry)
- Confirm publication in the UK
- Balance accessible style for general readers with academic rigor
- Confirm meeting nationality/residency requirements at award time
- Thoroughly edit and proofread to enhance readability
Don''ts
- Don't rely solely on jargon making it unreadable for general readers
- Don't enter (nominate) if publication location requirements not met
- Don't inaccurately state facts or sources
From Judges
- Emphasis on balancing 'readability' and 'research quality'
- New interpretations or original research lead to high evaluation
- Write with clear narrative targeting general readers
Related Awards
- Alan Ball Local History Awards
- The Whitfield Prize
- List of history awards
- Wolfson Economics Prize
Official Resources
https://www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk/Past Winners
No winner
No winner
No winner
No winner
Joya Chatterji
Winner
Nandini Das
Nominee
Nicholas Radburn
Nominee
Andrew Seaton
Nominee
Jonny Steinberg
Nominee
Frank Trentmann
Nominee
No winner
No winner
No winner
No winner
Halik Kochanski
Winner
Hakim Adi
Nominee
James Belich
Nominee
Henrietta Harrison
Nominee
Oskar Jensen
Nominee
Emma Josephine Smith
Nominee
Halik Kochanski
Winner
Hakim Adi
Nominee
James Belich
Nominee
Henrietta Harrison
Nominee
Oskar Jensen
Nominee
Emma Josephine Smith
Nominee
Clare Jackson
Winner
Marc David Baer
Nominee
Malcolm Gaskill
Nominee
Alex von Tunzelmann
Nominee
Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Nominee
Nicholas Orme
Nominee
Clare Jackson
Winner
Marc David Baer
Nominee
Malcolm Gaskill
Nominee
Alex von Tunzelmann
Nominee
Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Nominee
Nicholas Orme
Nominee
Clare Jackson
Winner
Marc David Baer
Nominee
Malcolm Gaskill
Nominee
Alex von Tunzelmann
Nominee
Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Nominee
Nicholas Orme
Nominee
Clare Jackson
Winner
Marc David Baer
Nominee
Malcolm Gaskill
Nominee
Alex von Tunzelmann
Nominee
Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Nominee
Nicholas Orme
Nominee
Clare Jackson
Winner
Marc David Baer
Nominee
Malcolm Gaskill
Nominee
Alex von Tunzelmann
Nominee
Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Nominee
Nicholas Orme
Nominee
Clare Jackson
Winner
Marc David Baer
Nominee
Malcolm Gaskill
Nominee
Alex von Tunzelmann
Nominee
Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Nominee
Nicholas Orme
Nominee
Sudhir Hazareesingh
Winner
Geoffrey Plank
Nominee
Richard Ovenden
Nominee
Helen McCarthy
Nominee
Judith Herrin
Nominee
Rebecca Clifford
Nominee
Sudhir Hazareesingh
Winner
Geoffrey Plank
Nominee
Richard Ovenden
Nominee
Helen McCarthy
Nominee
Judith Herrin
Nominee
Rebecca Clifford
Nominee
Sudhir Hazareesingh
Winner
Geoffrey Plank
Nominee
Richard Ovenden
Nominee
Helen McCarthy
Nominee
Judith Herrin
Nominee
Rebecca Clifford
Nominee
Peter Marshall
Winner
Barry Cunliffe
Winner
Ian Kershaw
Winner
Joanna Bourke
Winner
Antony Beevor
Winner