The Historical Novel Society Australasia, in collaboration with the ARA Group proudly announced the winners of the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize at a celebratory event held at NSW Parliament House on Wednesday, October 23 2024.
This prestigious award, boasting the largest individual literary prize in Australasia with a total prize pool of $150,000, honors the exceptional talents of novelists who bring historical narratives to life, offering insights into our present and future. The 2024 winning novels span diverse eras, featuring a powerful tale of First Nations resistance and a unique wartime drama. We extend our congratulations to both winners.
Adult Category Winner: Melissa Lucashenko for Edenglassie
Melissa Lucashenko, an acclaimed Aboriginal writer of Goorie and European heritage, was awarded the Adult Prize of $100,000 for her novel Edenglassie. This epic novel explores Australia’s colonial past and its enduring consequences through dual timelines. It vividly portrays 19th-century colonialism and contemporary Indigenous existence, highlighting the brutal realities of colonization while celebrating the resilience of Indigenous cultures.
Children and Young Adult Category Winner: Beverley McWilliams for Spies in the Sky
Beverley McWilliams won the Children and Young Adult category with her novel Spies in the Sky, receiving $30,000. This engaging story, inspired by the true history of pigeons used as spies during World War II, offers a gripping narrative from the pigeons’ perspective. It explores themes of friendship, teamwork, courage, and empathy, making it a thought-provoking and enjoyable read for young audiences.
Shortlisted Authors
We would also like to recognise those who were shortlisted for both the Adult and CYA category. Selected from over 130 entries, the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize Shortlists demonstrate the power of the historical fiction genre to recover lost, overlooked or deliberately erased histories, while illuminating what is often hidden and unspoken in society today. Each shortlist received $5,000.
Adult Shortlist
- The Unearthed by Lenny Bartulin
- Women & Children by Tony Birch
CYA Shortlist
- Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lim
- Secret Sparrow by Jackie French
The night left us with a profound appreciation for the power of historical fiction. The event highlighted the exceptional talent of authors who skilfully weave the past into narratives that resonate with contemporary readers.
Congratulations to all the winners and shortlisted authors for their extraordinary contributions to literature. We look forward to seeing these stories inspire and enlighten readers across Australasia and for the new historical novels to be recognised.