2024 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction Longlist

Founded in 2009, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction celebrates quality, innovation, and ambition of writing for books published in the previous year in the UK, Ireland, or the Commonwealth. To qualify, the majority of the storyline must have taken place at least 60 years ago. The winner, HUNGRY GHOSTS, was announced at the Borders Book Festival on June 13.

For more information check out the Prize’s website.

Longlisted titles in the NLS Collection are:

NEW LIFE by Tom Crewe (DB 114042)
HUNGRY GHOSTS by Kevin Jared Hosein (DB 114849)
FRAUD by Zadie Smith (DB 116592)
HOUSE OF DOORS by Twan Eng Tan (DB 117570)
IN THE UPPER COUNTRY by Kai Thomas (DB 112118)

Staff Pick – Laura Jean– HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi, DB 84732

If you enjoy historical family sagas that feature a host of complex characters set amidst a sweeping storyline, you may enjoy Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel. Nominated for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize, Dylan Thomas Prize and Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction, HOMEGOING tells the history of both Ghana and the United States through the eyes of multiple generations of a family as they encounter the racial, religious, and political tensions that permeated both countries from the 18th century until the present day.

NLS Annotation for HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi (DB 84732): In the 1700s, half sisters Esi and Effia are born in Ghana without knowing each other. Effia marries a wealthy Englishman, while Esi is imprisoned in the dungeon of the castle where Effia lives, before she is shipped to America and sold into slavery. Their descendants witness history. Unrated. Bestseller. Commercial audiobook. 2016.

If you have already read this book or enjoy African American family sagas, try ROOTS: THE SAGA OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY by Alex Haley (BR 17794, DB 53160). Or if you’re more interested in reading about a contemporary family bound to both the United States and Ghana, try GHANA MUST GO by Taiye Selasi (DB 76458).