The Orwell Prize for Books is Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing and is awarded each year to the book that comes closest to George Orwell’s ambition to ‘Make political writing into an art’. Unusually no fiction makes the cut this year and books on the Middle East dominate the list.
For those who like to stay ahead of the award winners, here is this year’s longlist. The winner will be announced at the end of May.
Andy Beckett – Promised you a Miracle: UK80 – 82
Published by Allen Lane
A look at how the early 1980s shaped modern Britain, by Guardian writer Andy Beckett.
Jason Burke – The New Threat from Islamic Militancy
Published by Bodley Head
A look at the Middle East militant problem and how it has been allowed to grow in strength in recent years.
The New Threat from Islamic Militancy US
The New Threat from Islamic Militancy UK
Thomas Harding – The House by the Lake
Published by William Heinemann
This touching memoir is the perfect read for anyone wanting to learn more about modern Germany and its development.
Sudhir Hazareesingh – How the French Think
Published by Allen Lane
Here Hazareesingh brings together 400 years of French intellects and political figures to summarise, in the most affectionate way, French culture and thinking.
Steve Hilton – More Human
Published by WH Allen
A look at how we measure success, and how we could better structure our lives towards happiness and wellbeing.
John Kay – Other People’s Money
Published by Profile Books
A look at the financial sector and how it uses other people’s money to create appropriation of wealth.
Ferdinand Mount – The Tears of the Rajas
Published by Simon and Schuster
Tears of the Rajas looks at India between 1805 and 1905 and how politics and royalty have shaped the country.
Arkady Ostrovsky – The Invention of Russia
Published by Atlantic Books
The Invention of Russia is a fascinating chronicle on the last twenty-five years of Russian politics, to where we are today.
Emma Sky – The Unravelling
Published by Atlantic Books
The Unraveling takes an in depth look at the Iraq crisis, the war and the missed opportunities.
Anne-Marie Slaughter – Unfinished Business
Published by Oneworld Publications
The world has changed for women, and now we can ‘have it all’. In Unfinished business, Anne-Marie Slaughter takes a good look at what that means.
Wendell Steavenson – Circling the Square
Published by Granta Books
Circling the Square is a collection of stories from the Egyptian Revolution, the Arab Spring, and the human effect.
Gillian Tett – The Silo Effect
Published by Little, Brown
A look at how our tendency for functional departments hinders the workplace and even productivity.
Samar Yazbek – The Crossing
Published by Rider
The Syrian conflict has been a hot topic this year, and Samar Yazbek travelled right to the heart of shattered Syria for this account.
The Orwell Prize was established in 1993 by the late Sir Bernard Crick. Previous winners have included James Meek (2015), Alan Johnson (2014) and many other wonderful political authors.
We’ll bring you the winners when announced in May.
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