2026 Winston Graham Historical Prize Shortlist Announced

A winter reading list with a strong sense of place has been revealed as the shortlist for the 2026 Winston Graham Historical Prize is announced.

Often described as Cornwall’s answer to The Booker, the prize celebrates the best new historical fiction published in the past year, with novels required to be set at least 60 years ago in the UK or Ireland. The award is closely linked to Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, where the ceremony is traditionally held.

Inspired by the legacy of Winston Graham, author of the Poldark novels, the prize focuses on stories that open vivid windows onto the past while offering a powerful sense of place.

How the shortlist is chosen

The annual shortlist is shaped by readers’ groups from across Cornwall. Through their local libraries, groups are given submitted novels to read and discuss, before putting forward their favourites.

These titles are then considered by an expert judging panel led by Charlotte Hobson, an award-winning historical novelist based in Cornwall. Charlotte is joined this year by Peggotty Graham, academic and daughter in law of Winston Graham, along with authors Wyl Menmuir and Patrick Gale, writer and editor Sravya Raju, and book blogger Cathy Johnson.

Charlotte said:
“Historical fiction is evolving apace, with more diversity and nuance than ever before, and this year it’s really struck me how these subtle and brilliant stories set in the past shed light on the modern world. Sometimes it seems that the long view of a historical novel is the best way to make sense of the crazy times we’re living through.”

The 2026 shortlist

Judges will be choosing from five novels, with settings ranging from the Tudor court to rural Ireland in the 1960s.

The shortlisted books are:

• The Two Roberts by Damian Barr

• Helm by Sarah Hall

• The Pretender by Jo Harkin

• Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

• Time of the Child by Niall Williams

About the shortlisted novels

The Two Roberts by Damian Barr, published by Canongate, opens in 1930s Glasgow and follows the intertwined lives of artists Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun. The novel traces their journey through Paris, Rome and London as artistic success and excess collide during wartime Britain.

Helm by Sarah Hall, published by Faber & Faber, places an ancient and mischievous wind at the centre of the story. Spanning from neolithic times to the Victorian era, the novel explores the relationship between people and nature through the eyes of both the wind and a modern academic, Dr Selima Sutar.

The Pretender by Jo Harkin, published by Bloomsbury, is inspired by the real but little-known figure of Simnel, connected to the 1487 Yorkist rebellion. The novel focuses on life at the court of King Henry VII, blending recorded history with imagined inner lives.

Seascraper by Benjamin Wood, published by Penguin Random House, is set on the bleak northern coast of England in the 1960s. The story follows Thomas, a shrimper offered a chance to escape his harsh routine, against a backdrop shaped by music and memory. The novel has already won the 2026 Nero Prize for Fiction and was longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize.

Time of the Child by Niall Williams, published by Bloomsbury, is set in rural Ireland during advent in the 1960s. When a baby is left in the care of Ronnie and her father, Doctor Troy, their family life and standing within the community are quietly transformed over the course of winter.

Prize ceremonies and young writers

The prize ceremonies will take place on 12th March, with Hotel Tresanton in St Mawes providing accommodation for visiting authors and judges.

Jonathan Morton, Co-Director of the museum, said:
“We’re proud of Winston Graham’s connection with the museum and always enjoy the prize ceremony and the anticipation it brings. We’re also now using Graham’s legacy to inspire young writers with Winston’s Wordsmiths, a creative writing prize for children aged 8-16. This year’s winners will be announced at Waterstones on the same day as the adults’ prize, so do look out for the names of emerging writers to watch!”

The winning novel will be announced in March, bringing this year’s journey through history to a close.