Orbital
by Samantha Harvey
Two Decades of Distinguished Literature
Explore the most prestigious book awards from the United Kingdom, European Union, and United States — celebrating 20 years of exceptional storytelling.
45
Literary Awards
Tracked across regions
89+
Winners Recorded
Award-winning works
20
Years Covered
2005 — 2025
3
Regions
UK, EU & US
by Samantha Harvey
by Jayne Anne Phillips
by Paul Murray
by Emily Tesh
by Jenny Erpenbeck
Translated by Michael Hofmann (from German)
by Kamel Daoud
Discover the unique literary traditions and celebrated works honored across three continents.
The leading literary award in the English-speaking world, awarded annually for the best novel written in English and published in the UK or Ireland.
Prize: £50,000
Latest Winner (2024)
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Awarded for a single book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. The prize is split between author and translator.
Prize: £50,000
Latest Winner (2024)
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck
Celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in writing by women throughout the world. Previously known as the Orange Prize.
Prize: £30,000
Latest Winner (2024)
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
Companion prize celebrating excellence in non-fiction writing by women.
Prize: £30,000
Formerly the Whitbread Book Awards, honoured books across multiple categories by authors resident in UK/Ireland. Discontinued in 2022.
Prize: £30,000
Launched to fill the gap left by Costa, celebrating the best reads of the year by UK and Ireland-based writers.
Prize: £15,000
Known as the "Nibbies", these awards recognize literary quality and commercial success, plus the industry behind bringing books to readers.
Britain's oldest literary award, administered by the University of Edinburgh.
Prize: £10,000
Presented for the best science fiction novel first published in the UK during the previous year.
Prize: £2,025
The most prestigious poetry prize in the UK, awarded by the Poetry Book Society.
Prize: £25,000
Awarded to the best published literary work in English by an author aged 39 or under.
Prize: £20,000
The most prestigious non-fiction prize in the UK, formerly known as the Samuel Johnson Prize.
Prize: £50,000
Prizes for political writing that comes closest to George Orwell's ambition to make political writing into an art.
Prize: £3,000
Recognizes the best emerging fiction writers in Europe, highlighting the wealth of creativity and diversity of European contemporary literature.
Prize: €5,000
France's most prestigious literary award, given annually to the author of the best and most imaginative prose work of the year.
Prize: €10
Latest Winner (2024)
Houris by Kamel Daoud
One of the major French literary prizes, awarded by an all-female jury.
Prize: None
Major French literary prize announced on the same day as the Prix Goncourt.
French literary prize rewarding a novel or collection of short stories by an author whose fame does not yet match their talent.
Awarded annually during the Frankfurt Book Fair for the best German-language novel of the year.
Prize: €25,000
Latest Winner (2024)
Heilung by Timon Karl Kaleyta
The most important literary award in Germany, recognizing writers who have made significant contributions to German-language literature.
Prize: €50,000
Italy's most prestigious literary prize, awarded annually for the best Italian-language novel.
Major Italian literary award presented annually for Italian fiction.
The richest literary prize in the Spanish-speaking world, awarded for unpublished Spanish-language fiction.
Prize: €1,000,000
The oldest literary prize in Spain, awarded annually for Spanish-language novels.
Prize: €30,000
Unique among international literary prizes as nominations come from public libraries worldwide.
Prize: €100,000
French literary prize awarded by journalists to a novel by a French journalist.
One of the most prestigious American awards for achievements in journalism, literature, and music.
Prize: $15,000
Latest Winner (2024)
Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips
Pulitzer Prize for distinguished biography or autobiography by an American author.
Prize: $15,000
Pulitzer Prize for a distinguished book on the history of the United States.
Prize: $15,000
Pulitzer Prize for distinguished non-fiction by an American author.
Prize: $15,000
Pulitzer Prize for distinguished volume of original verse by an American author.
Prize: $15,000
One of the most prestigious literary prizes in the United States, administered by the National Book Foundation.
Prize: $10,000
National Book Award recognizing the best non-fiction of the year.
Prize: $10,000
National Book Award recognizing the best poetry collection of the year.
Prize: $10,000
National Book Award for outstanding literature for young adults.
Prize: $10,000
Award presented by the National Book Critics Circle for the finest fiction published in the US.
The largest peer-juried award for fiction in the United States.
Prize: $15,000
Science fiction and fantasy's most prestigious award, voted by members of the World Science Fiction Convention.
Latest Winner (2024)
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
Awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association for the best science fiction or fantasy novel.
Named after Edgar Allan Poe, presented by the Mystery Writers of America for the best mystery novel.
Awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book.
Awarded annually for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Award for literary excellence in young adult literature.
One of the richest literary awards in the world, bestowed by Kirkus Reviews.
Prize: $50,000
Awarded by the American Library Association for the best fiction book for adult readers.
Prize: $5,000
Browse our complete archive of winners, explore by year, or discover award-winning books in your favorite genre.