Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in partnership with Australia’s leading essential building and infrastructure services provider ARA Group, is excited to announce the Longlists for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize.

This year’s Longlists traverse a vast tapestry of settings and eras, delving into tales of love against prejudice, the resilience in the face of societal shifts, and the enduring spirit of individuals amidst challenges. From sun-soaked Australian landscapes to the complexities of medieval England and the turmoil of wartime Europe, the stories underscore the potency of historical fiction to illuminate the intricacies of human nature, evoke untold tales, and spotlight the shared tribulations and triumphs echoing through time.

The Longlist for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize – Adult Category is:

• Limberlost – Robbie Arnott (Text Publishing)
• The Fire and the Rose – Robyn Cadwallader (HarperCollins Publishers Australia)
• Nimblefoot – Robert Drewe (Hamish Hamilton, an imprint of Penguin Random House)
• The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies – Alison Goodman (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Salonika Burning – Gail Jones (Text Publishing)
• The Sun Walks Down – Fiona McFarlane (Allen & Unwin)
• Iris – Fiona Kelly McGregor (Pan Macmillan Australia)
• The Settlement – Jock Serong (Text Publishing)
• The Bookbinder of Jericho – Pip Williams (Affirm Press)

The Longlist for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize – Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category is:

• The Great Gallipoli Escape – Jackie French (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Running with Ivan – Suzanne Leal (HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Killing Code – Ellie Marnie (Allen & Unwin)
• The Bookseller’s Apprentice – Amelia Mellor (Affirm Press)
• Waiting for the Storks – Katrina Nannestad (ABC Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Upwelling – Lystra Rose (Hatchette Australia)
• The Mud Puddlers – Pamela Rushby (Walker Books)
• Iris and Me – Phillipa Werry (Ahoy! An Imprint of The Cuba Press)
• Tilda – Sue Whiting (Walker Books)

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is worth a total of $100,000 in prize monies. The Prize will award $50,000 to the Adult category winner, with an additional $5,000 to be awarded to each of the remaining two shortlisted authors. In the Children and Young Adult (CYA) category, the winner will receive $30,000, while the two shortlisted authors will receive $5,000 each.

The 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize Shortlist will be announced on Wednesday 27 September 2023. Winners will be announced on 19 October 2023. For more information about the awards and to see last year’s winners, please visit the HNSA website.