The Historical Writers Association

The official website of the HWA

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History by the River

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First of a New Series of Events in West London

History by the River is new a monthly panel event with a social buzz for lovers of books, history and good beer. It’s a chance to get together with fellow readers and authors to hear about the best new historical writing, then discuss it all over a drink afterwards.

Be there at the beginning of something great.

NB: you can’t actually see Tower Bridge from the pub, but Hammersmith Bridge is pretty too.

16th May 2017

Conn Iggulden

Antonia Senior

Sarah Day

Chaired by William Ryan.

To see more about the speakers and book please visit the EventBrite page
Ticket price: £5

Announcing New Crowns

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The HWA are delighted to announce two new Crowns alongside the already established Debut Crown which will be awarded to outstanding historical writers in 2017.

The Gold Crown will be awarded to the best historical novel of the year, and we will also be awarding a Non-fiction Crown for the best popular non-fiction historical work.

The new awards will join with the Debut Crown to form a perfectly formed suit of prizes to promote great historical writing from new and established authors and celebrate our engagement with narratives of the past.

The Gold Crown will be sponsored by Endeavour Ink and is to be known as the HWA Endeavour Ink Gold Crown.

 

HWA in The Guardian

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Margaret Thatcher has narrowly beaten David Cameron to be named the worst prime minister of the past 100 years by historical writers.

The Historical Writers’ Association surveyed its membership on their views of the 19 prime ministers who have led the UK since 1916, in advance both of this year’sHarrogate History festival later this week, and Theresa May’s 100th day in office on 22 October. Thatcher, who died in 2013, came in first with 24% of the vote, followed by Cameron (22%) and Neville Chamberlain (17%).

Read more

HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown Shortlist Announced

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The shortlist for the HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown 2016 was announced at this year’s History In The Court event on Thursday evening (30th June).

Death and Mr Pickwick by Stephen Jarvis, published by Jonathan Cape
The judges said: “A splendidly ambitious and tongue-in-cheek pastiche of the Victorian novel: The Pickwick Papers will never be the same again.”

Eden Gardens by Louise Brown, published by Headline
The judges said: “White trash in British India: a poignant mother-and-daughter story provides an unexpected perspective on the Raj.”

The Hoarse Oaths of Fife by Chris Moore, published by Uniform Press
The judges said: “From Fife in the 1960s to Loos in World War I: a wry and moving novel about fathers and sons that also meditates on war and race.”

Mrs Engels by Gavin McCrea, published by Scribe
The judges said: “The private lives of Marx and Engels are revealed as never before in this brilliant act of literary ventriloquism.”

Summertime by Vanessa Lafaye, published by Orion
The judges said: “A powerful and accomplished novel of love and loss that focuses on the plight of unwanted veterans and Florida’s disastrous 1935 hurricane.”

Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck, published by Hodder
The judges said: “Finnish settlers are immersed in a powerful, beautifully written gothic murder mystery in a remote area of eighteenth-century Lapland.”

The HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown award and prize money of £1,000 will be presented at the Harrogate International Festivals’ 2016 Harrogate History Festival, which takes place between 21st – 23rd October this year.

The HWA reveals 2016 Goldsboro Debut Crown Longlist

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The HWA reveals 2016 Goldsboro Debut Crown Longlist

Twelve remarkable books will fight it out in the race for this year’s HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown award.

Titles including The Hourglass Factory by Lucy Ribchester, Belonging by Umi Sinha, Cleopatra’s Shadows by Emily Holleman, Death and Mr Pickwick by Stephen Jarvis, Eden Gardens by Louise Brown, The Hoarse Oaths of Fife by Chris Moore, The Looking Glass House by Vanessa Tait, Mrs Engels by Gavin McCrea, Rembrandt’s Mirror by Kim Devereux, Summertime by Vanessa Lafaye, A Want of Kindness by Joanne Limburg and Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck have been nominated.

The Historical Writers’ Association unveiled their 2016 longlist ahead of this year’s History in the Court event on 30th June, where the judges will announce the titles that have made it onto the shortlist. The HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown will be presented to the winning author at the Harrogate International Festivals’ 2016 Harrogate History Festival, during the gala opening party on Friday 21st October.

“This year’s HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown long list reflects the strength and variety of the entries we received,” says chair judge Andrew Taylor. “It also demonstrates that historical fiction in the UK is flourishing as never before.”

This coveted award is presented to the book judged to be the best debut in historical fiction and comes with a £1,000 prize. The 2015 winner was Ben Fergusson’s novel The Spring of Kasper Meier.

“Our long list proves these are exciting times for fans of historical fiction,” says HWA chair Imogen Robertson. “These exciting new voices are demonstrating the strength of the genre and the range of superb storytelling it embraces.”

The HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown Longlist in full:

The Hourglass Factory by Lucy Ribchester, published by Simon & Schuster

Belonging by Umi Sinha, published by Myriad

Cleopatra’s Shadows by Emily Holleman, published by Little, Brown

Death and Mr Pickwick by Stephen Jarvis, published by Jonathan Cape

Eden Gardens by Louise Brown, published by Headline

The Hoarse Oaths of Fife by Chris Moore, published by Uniform Press

The Looking Glass House by Vanessa Tait, published by Atlantic

Mrs Engels by Gavin McCrea, published by Scribe

Rembrandt’s Mirror by Kim Devereux, published by Atlantic

Summertime by Vanessa Lafaye, published by Orion

A Want of Kindness by Joanne Limburg, published by Atlantic

Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck, published by Hodder

For further information, please contact Kate White, press officer for the Historical Writers’ Association at kate@frontpagemediauk.co.uk or on 07814791775.

Notes for editors:

The HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown has been running since 2012.

Previous winners:

2015: The Spring Of Kasper Meier – Ben Fergusson

2014: She Rises – Kate Worsley

2013: The Light Between Oceans – M.L Stedman

2012: Treason’s Tide – Robert Wilton

The HWA Goldsboro Debut Crown Judges are:

Andrew Taylor – author and chair judge

Manda Scott – author and former HWA chair

Daphne Wright – author

Nick Rennison – author

Nick Sayers – publisher

Antonia Senior – author

About the HWA:

The Historical Writers’ Association are authors, publishers and agents of historical writing, both fiction and non-fiction. The HWA was created to provide professional and social support to our members, and to created opportunities online and in person for our members to meet with readers, fellow writers and enthusiasts for all things historical. Our chair is the author Imogen Robertson, who took over from founding chair Manda Scott in 2015.

www.historicalwriters.org

About Goldsboro Books:

Goldsboro Books’ mission is to provide signed first edition books in our central London bookshop and online; ensuring an expert, knowledgeable team and carefully curated range are at the heart of our business, delivering the best book-buying experience for every customer. Goldsboro Books aims to interest and inspire book lovers, readers and collectors and provide the finest quality signed books in the world.

www.goldsborobooks.com

About Harrogate International Festivals

Harrogate International Festivals is one of the north of England’s leading arts & cultural organisations, offering a year-round programme of music and literature festivals and events, plus education and outreach work across the Harrogate district.

Established in 1966, the charity has a history of attracting the world’s most enthralling performers to Yorkshire’s doorstep, and of nurturing young talent. Its diverse portfolio has dramatically increased the cultural and tourism offer for Harrogate and the surrounding area.

2016 marks its 50th anniversary.

Its 2016 programmes includes:

www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

About Future 50

The Future 50 Appeal aims to raise £1m, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Harrogate International Festivals by helping to secure the future of the organisation, looking to the next 50 years of arts and cultural events in Harrogate.

To stage what is one of the most ambitious programmes in the North of England, each year Harrogate International Festivals is required to raise over £500,000 from grants, donations and sponsorship.

The Festivals has a huge impact on tourism, attracting 90,000 people resulting in an £8.2m economic impact for the District. It also works year-round to change lives, from community outreach work to safeguarding a performance platform for aspiring musicians.

The last 50 years has seen world-class names headline in Harrogate, including acts as diverse as Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Alfred Brendel, Paloma Faith, the Halle, BB King and JK Rowling.

The Festivals was at the forefront of classical music in the 60s, the vanguard of comedy and street theatre in the 80s and 90s, and now delivers over 300 events per year, celebrating its heritage and developing innovative new strands.