BBC FOUR SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 1999
ANTONY BEEVOR WINS NEW SAMUEL JOHNSON

PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION £30,000 FOR WINNER OF TOP LITERARY PRIZE

Antony Beevor was tonight named as the first winner of the fiercely contested 1999 Samuel Johnson Prize, the UK’s most valuable non-fiction award, for STALINGRAD, published by Penguin.

Beevor, a distinguished historian and novelist, wins £30,000 for this epic account of Hitler’s siege of the Russian city – an event that was
to become a decisive turning point in the Second World War.

Broadcaster James Naughtie, chair of the judges, made the announcement at a dinner held at London’s Banqueting House. 
The cheque for £30,000 was presented by fellow judge Cherie Booth.

James Naughtie commented:

‘STALINGRAD is stunning history.  It is meticulous and original.  Above
all it speaks directly to its readers with force and a luminous humanity.  From a shortlist of big books, we decided in the end that it was the biggest.’

STALINGRAD, currently at number 2 in the UK bestseller lists, has also become an international publishing success. A completely fresh account of the battle of Stalingrad, the book conveys the reality of one of the most terrifying conflicts ever known.

Now in its first year, The Samuel Johnson Prize is the only major prize to celebrate the variety and originality of non-fiction publishing today.  This year’s award was presented on the anniversary of the first publication of Samuel Johnson’s historic dictionary on 14 June 1755.

The winning book was chosen from a shortlist of six, announced last month.  Each of the other shortlisted authors receives a cheque for £2,500. 

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