Shapiro named Baillie Gifford Winner of Winners

In the UK, James Shapiro has won the Baillie Gifford Winner of Winners Award—being held to celebrate the prize’s 25th anniversary—for his book 1599: A year in the life of William Shakespeare (Faber), reports the Bookseller.

1599, which won the prize in 2006, explores the year that Shakespeare produced some of his greatest works. Judge Sarah Churchwell said the book ‘ticked every box’. ‘It does so many things remarkably well, and we felt that it was important that the book that won can show what creative nonfiction can do,’ said Churchwell. ‘And it had to be beautifully written, it had to be wonderfully researched, and it had to think about nonfiction in creative and interesting ways.’

The annual Baillie Gifford award, originally known as the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction, recognises the best work of nonfiction by authors of any nationality. Shapiro’s book was chosen from a shortlist of six titles, which itself was chosen from the 24 award winners.

Category: Awards International news