The Walter Scott Prize 2018 longlist is out!

1st March, 2018

We’re thrilled to announce our 2018 Longlist.  The thirteen books are:

The Clocks In This House All Tell Different Times  by Xan Brooks

Birdcage Walk  by Helen Dunmore

Manhattan Beach  by Jennifer Egan 

The Last Man In Europe  by Dennis Glover 

Sugar Money  by Jane Harris

Prussian Blue  by Philip Kerr

The Draughtsman  by Robert Lautner

Grace  by Paul Lynch

The Wardrobe Mistress  by Patrick McGrath

Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves  by Rachel Malik

The Gallows Pole  by Benjamin Myers

The Horseman  by Tim Pears

The Bedlam Stacks  by Natasha Pulley

The Judges said:

“This year our Prize has attracted a record number of entries, and historical fiction continues to ride a wave of publishing success. As a result, we have been able to make our selection from a body of remarkable and varied novels.  In our longlist, we have attempted to represent different styles – from lyrical to experimental, and from epic to intimate.

“All human life is here, from outlaws making a living forging coins in Yorkshire’s badlands, to post-war London theatre society.  We hope that in representing such a richness of styles and diversity of settings, the Walter Scott Prize can bring to public attention new work, while at the same time rewarding writers at the top of their game.  We’re looking forward to bringing the best of these forward to shortlist in April.”

Find out more about the books in our longlist on our 2018 Prize page, and join the conversation on our social media channels!

And watch out for a further list of books recommended by our Academy, which will be announced later this month.