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2005 - Longlist
The judges for the UK’s most valuable prize for non-fiction
announce today (Wednesday, 20 April) the longlist for the
BBC FOUR Samuel Johnson Prize 2005. The prize is worth £30,000
to the winner.
From 130 entries and 43 call-ins, the 20 titles on the longlist
range widely in subject matter. There are no fewer than three
books about cities, two impressive first books, five historical
biographies, two science books and a tribute to the art of
gardening. This year’s BBC FOUR Samuel Johnson Prize
longlist is as diverse as it is thought-provoking.
Sue MacGregor, Chair of the judges, comments:
‘The exciting thing about non-fiction is how all-embracing
a category it is, and how fluid. The judges have all had
a good time going through the dozens of entries. And there
are interesting trends to spot. From two writers with first
books to consummate biographers, books inspired by some of
the world's greatest cities to the gentle art of gardening
- this longlist reveals new trends and the current strength
of non-fiction. The spread is wide - the final choice will
be the really hard task.’
The 2005 judging panel represents the finest in academic
and literary experience. Chaired by Sue MacGregor, the judges
are mathematician and broadcaster, Marcus du Sautoy; Sunday
Times Deputy Literary Editor, Andrew Holgate; historian
and broadcaster, Maria Misra and journalist and broadcaster,
John Simpson.
The shortlist for the prize will be announced at Waterstone’s
Piccadilly in London on Thursday, 12 May. The winner
of The BBC FOUR Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2005
will be announced at an awards dinner at the Savoy Hotel
in London on Tuesday, 14 June.
The BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize forNon-fiction 2005
LONGLIST:
| Author |
Title |
Publisher |
Paula Byrne |
Perdita |
HarperCollins |
| Helen Castor |
Blood and Roses |
Faber and Faber |
| Like a Fiery Elephant |
Jonathan Coe |
Picador |
| Mary Wollstonecraft |
Lyndall Gordon |
Little, Brown |
| Stephen Greenblatt |
Will in the World |
Jonathan Cape |
| Adam Hochschild |
Bury the Chains |
Macmillan |
| Michio Kaku |
Parallel Worlds Lane |
Penguin Allen |
| Alexander Masters |
Stuart: A Life
Backwards |
Fourth Estate |
| Mark Mazower |
Salonica |
HarperCollins |
| Armand Marie Leroi |
Mutants |
HarperCollins |
| Suketu Mehta |
MaximumCity |
Penguin Allen Lane |
| Charles Nicholl |
Leonardo da Vinci |
Harvill |
| Orhan Pamuk |
Istanbul |
Faber and Faber |
| David Reynolds |
In Command of History |
Penguin |
| Peter Robb |
A Death in Brazil |
Bloomsbury |
| N.A.M Rodger |
The Command of
the Ocean |
Penguin Allen Lane |
| Hilary Spurling |
Matisse the Master |
Faber and Faber |
| Robert Skidelsky |
Hawkwood |
Faber and Faber |
| Jenny Uglow |
A Little History
of British Gardening |
Chatto & Windus |
| Sarah Wise |
The Italian Boy |
Jonathan Cape |
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