The Wolfson History Prize —the UK’s most prestigious history writing prize—has announced its 2025 shortlist, highlighting six of the best history books from the past year. Now in its 53rd year, the Wolfson History Prize celebrates the best historical writing being produced in the UK, reflecting both readability for a general audience and the highest quality writing and research.
This year’s shortlist unearths hidden and lesser-known chapters from across history, from the everyday objects used in daily life by the Vikings, to personal narratives of multiculturalism in Britain; incredible stories of Victorian female detectives, to lost accounts from the last captives of the Atlantic slave trade; an intense rivalry between two royal cousins, to a reframing of the demise of a remote Scottish island.
The shortlist
- Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age by Eleanor Barraclough
- The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV by Helen Castor
- Multicultural Britain: A People’s History by Kieran Connell
- Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade by Hannah Durkin
- The Gravity of Feathers: Fame, Fortune and the Story of St Kilda by Andrew Fleming
- The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective by Sara Lodge
The judges
The judges for the Wolfson History Prize 2025 are Mary Beard, Sudhir Hazareesingh, Helen King and Diarmaid MacCulloch, with the panel chaired by David Cannadine.
David Cannadine, Chair of the Wolfson History Prize judges, said:
The 2025 shortlist highlights the exceptional historians writing today, across a vast range of subject areas. Original, intimate and fascinating, each of the books on this year’s shortlist enrich our understanding of humanity and the past – and in so doing also provide deep insights into the world in which we live.
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said:
We are delighted to be announcing this year’s shortlist for the Wolfson History Prize 2025, celebrating the highest quality historical writing and research. The Prize judges have chosen a shortlist with incredible breadth and depth. Each shortlisted author brings new stories from history to light with a masterly command of both prose and sources.
Winner announcement
The winner of the Wolfson History Prize 2025 will be revealed on Tuesday 2 December 2025. As the most valuable history writing prize in the UK, the Wolfson History Prize awards a combined total of £75,000, with the winner receiving £50,000 and each of the five shortlisted authors receiving £5,000.
The Wolfson History Prize is run and awarded by the Wolfson Foundation, an independent charity that awards grants in the fields of science, health, heritage, humanities, and the arts. Find out more.
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 2025 shortlisted titles as well as previous winners and shortlisted authors. 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. Share a photo of the display on social media by 5pm on 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 shortlist, you can order FREE digital packs from our shop.
What do you think of the 2025 shortlisted titles? Which have you read and what will be added to your TBR pile? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, X and Instagram using #WolfsonHistoryPrize.
Keep up with all the latest news on the Wolfson History Prize website.
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