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BBC FOUR SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION
2003
ACCLAIMED HISTORIAN WINS
BBC FOUR SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2003
T.J. Binyon was tonight (Monday 9 June) named as the winner
of the fiercely contested BBC FOUR Samuel Johnson Prize for
Non-Fiction 2003 for his outstanding biography, Pushkin,
published by HarperCollins.
Binyon’s Pushkin is the first full-length
and authoritative biography of ‘Russia’s greatest
poet’ to be published in English - or in any language
- since 1937, and is the most detailed account of the poet's
life and times yet.
Alexander Pushkin was described as ‘an extraordinary
and perhaps unique manifestation of the Russian spirit’.
T.J. Binyon, a leading Russian scholar, brings his subject
alive in this masterly work.
Michael Portillo, speaking on behalf of the judging panel,
made the announcement live on BBC FOUR from a dinner held
at London’s Savoy Hotel. He commented:
“The six books on this year’s shortlist are
all an excellent read, and the judges have been impressed
by the scholarship and beautiful prose demonstrated by the
authors. T.J. Binyon’s biography of Pushkin is
the product of the author’s years of dedication to
his subject. Whilst Pushkin does not translate well
into English, Binyon has undertaken a massive task to reveal
his genius to us and has written a gripping and intimate
account of his life and death.”
The BBC FOUR Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction, now in
its fifth year, celebrates originality and diversity in contemporary
non-fiction publishing. Named in honour of the great critic,
essayist, lexicographer, poet and biographer, the BBC FOUR
Samuel Johnson Prize is the world’s richest prize for
non-fiction, recognising works published in English the UK,
regardless of nationality of the author.
The winning book was chosen from a shortlist of six, announced
last month. The winner receives a cheque for £30,000,
and each of the shortlisted authors receives a cheque for £1,000.
The panel of judges for the 2003 BBC FOUR Samuel Johnson
Prize for Non-Fiction was: journalist and broadcaster Rosie
Boycott (Chair); Member of Parliament, Michael Portillo;
science editor of the Guardian, Tim Radford; historian and
writer, Andrew Roberts; and literary editor of The Economist,
Fiammetta Rocco.
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