Historian Joya Chatterji has been named the winner of the Wolfson History Prize 2024 for her genre-defying history of South Asia: Shadows at Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century.
The winner of the most prestigious history writing prize in the UK was announced at a ceremony in central London. Chatterji was awarded £50,000, and celebrated alongside the other five shortlisted authors who each took home £5,000.
A distinguished judging panel comprising historians Mary Beard, Richard Evans, Sudhir Hazareesingh, Carole Hillenbrand, Diarmaid MacCulloch and chair David Cannadine presided over the shortlist for 2024, which seeks to recognise books which combine excellence in research with readability for a general audience.
On the 2024 winning title, the judges said:
Shadows at Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century is a captivating history of modern South Asia, full of fascinating insights about the lives of its peoples. Written with verve and energy, this book beautifully blends the personal and the historical.
David Cannadine, chair of the Wolfson History Prize judges said:
Shadows at Noon is a highly ambitious history of twentieth-century South Asia that defies easy categorisation, combining rigorous historical research with personal reminiscence and family anecdotes. Chatterji writes with wit and perception, shining a light on themes that have shaped the subcontinent during this period. We extend our warmest congratulations to Joya Chatterji on her Wolfson History Prize win.
About the Book
Shadows at Noon, previously longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction 2024 and shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize 2024, pushes back against standard narratives of the subcontinent that emphasise the differences between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and instead seeks to highlight what unites these three nations and their peoples.
This unique academic work – interwoven with Chatterji’s own reflections on growing up in India — adopts a conversational writing style, and takes a thematic rather than chronological approach. Everyday experiences of food, cinema and the household are given an equal footing to discussions about politics and nationhood.
As a result, the cultural vibrancy of South Asia shines through the research, allowing readers a more nuanced understanding of the region.
Library Display Competition
This year, the Wolfson History Prize and The Reading Agency are offering digital POS kits to libraries across the UK which celebrate the 2024 prize. This is available from our shop.
To be in with the chance of winning a set of the shortlisted books, libraries can create a display using the posters, stickers and social media assets included. Share a photo of the display on social media by 12 December and tag @WolfsonHistory and @ReadingAgency to enter.
Get involved
If you work in a library or workplace and would like to promote the prize, you can download a free digital pack from our shop.
What do you think of this year’s winner? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #WolfsonHistoryPrize.
To learn more about the Wolfson History Prize head over to their website or connect on Twitter via @WolfsonHistory
Want to make sure you never miss the latest reading group news? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter.
