The shortlists for the Costa Book Awards 2019 were announced back in November 2019 and now the winners of each of the five categories have been announced. The winning books from each genre were announced live and exclusively on BBC’s Front Row by Suzannah Lipscomb, the Chair of Costa Biography Award.
Anyway, it’s the list you’re waiting for so without further ado, here it is along with the thoughts from the Costa Prize judges.
Novel Award
Middle England – Jonathan Coe
“This is very much a novel of the moment it captures the zeitgeist in very witty and perfectly observed prose.”
First Novel Award
The Confessions of Frannie Langton – Sara Collins
“An imaginative, sensuous, evocative work of gothic fiction.”
Biography Award
The Volunteer – Jack Fairweather
“A deeply moving, chilling, masterful biography.”
Children’s Book Award
Asha & the Spirit Bird – Jasbinder Bilan
“A gorgeous, magical, Indian tale of adventure.”
Poetry Award
Flèche – Mary Jean Chan
“Heartstopping collection of poems, many of them are written as a discourse with the poet’s mother. And they’re about queerness and coming out.”
Congratulations to all the category award-winning books which will now all move forward to consideration as Costa’s Book of the Year 2019. Their overall Book of the Year will be announced later on 28th January 2020, so stay tuned to find out which book triumphs.
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