The Baillie Gifford Prize that rewards excellence in contemporary non-fiction writing has released its longlist for 2023. It covers all non-fiction in the areas of current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography and the arts.
The longlist of 13 books were chosen by this year’s judging panel: Literary Editor of Financial Times, Frederick Studemann (chair); award-winning author Andrea Wulf, theatre critic for The Guardian Arifa Akbar, the writer and historian Ruth Scurr, journalist and critic Tanjil Rashid and Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts Andrew Haldane.
This year, the longlist has recognised books highlighting themes about history and memory through events like the second world war, American slavery and Europe’s 1848 revolutions. It features writer Tania Branigan’s Red Memory, that explores the lasting impacts of China’s Cultural Revolution through the stories of witnesses. Jeremy Eichler’s Time’s Echo: The Second World War, The Holocaust, and The Music of Remembrance also looks at how composers transformed their experiences of the second world war and the Holocaust into musical works.
Six shortlisted titles will be announced on 8 October at Cheltenham literature festival. This year, to mark the award’s 25th anniversary, all shortlisted authors will receive £5,000, up from £1,000. The winner will be announced on 16 November and will be awarded £50,000.
