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1999 - Shorlist
SIX OUTSTANDING BOOKS COMPETE FOR £30,000 PRIZE
The judges for the UK’s most valuable prize for non-fiction
today announce the shortlist for the 1999 Samuel
Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction. The prize is worth £30,000
to the winner and £2,500 to each of the five other
shortlisted authors.
The brand new Samuel Johnson Prize celebrates
the variety and originality of non-fiction publishing today.
The six shortlisted books include two outstanding biographies,
an imaginative account of the life of Pontius Pilate and
one man’s account of his personal struggle with serious
illness.
The distinguished panel of judges for the 1999 Samuel
Johnson Prize are broadcaster James Naughtie (Chair);
barrister and wife of the Prime Minister Cherie
Booth; historian Orlando
Figes; journalist Kate Summerscale and
scientist Lewis Wolpert.
The shortlist is:
you can click on the book title
to read a sysnopsis of the book
| Author |
Title |
Publisher |
Price |
| Antony Beevor |
STALINGRAD |
Penguin |
£12.99 pb |
| John Diamond |
BECAUSE COWARDS GET CANCER TOO |
Vermilion |
£6.99 pb |
| Richard Holmes |
COLERIDGE: DARKER REFLECTIONS |
HarperCollins |
£19.99 |
| IIan Kershaw |
HITLER 1889-1936: HUBRIS |
Allen Lane |
£20.00 |
| David Landes |
THE WEALTH AND POVERTY OF NATIONS |
Little, Brown |
£10.99 pb |
| Ann Wroe |
PILATE: THE BIOGRAPHY OF AN
INVENTED MAN |
Jonathan Cape |
£17.99 |
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James
Naughtie, Chair of the judges, comments:
‘The judges consider this to be a wonderful crop of
shortlisted books,
all of them addressing their readers directly and all of
them marked
by the originality which the prize wants to celebrate. We
think this
is an outstanding final list.’
The Samuel Johnson Prize aims to cast a
spotlight on the very best books across the whole range of
non-fiction publishing. It was greeted with delight by the
literary world when it was launched in December 1998. 148
books were entered for the prize in this, its first year.
The Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction is
sponsored by a retired British businessman and philanthropist,
who wishes to remain anonymous.
The judges will meet again on Monday 14 June to choose the
winner. The presentation will take place at a dinner at the
Banqueting House, London that evening.
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