The 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize shortlists

27 September 2023

The shortlists for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize were announced earlier today. The award is presented in two categories, Adult, and Children and Young Adult. The three finalists in each category are as follows:

Adult

• Salonika Burning by Gail Jones
• Iris by Fiona Kelly McGregor
• The settlement by Jock Serong

Children and Young Adult

• Running with Ivan by Suzanne Leal
• The Bookseller’s Apprentice by Amelia Mellor
• Waiting for the Storks by Katrina Nannestad

Presented in association with the ARA Group, the ARA Historical Novel Prize, which is awarded annually, recognises excellence in historical fiction writing by Australian and New Zealand authors. The winners of both award categories will be named on Thursday 19 October 2023.

This year’s shortlist also marks the second year in a row that Katrina Nannestad has featured on the shortlists. Nannestad went on to win the Children and Young Adult category in 2022 with her book Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief. Will it be two a row for her this year?

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Australian literature, books, historical fiction, literary awards, literature