The shortlist for the Baillie Gifford Prize’s 25th Anniversary Winner of Winners award, where four judges – Chair Jason Cowley, Shahidha Bari, Sarah Churchwell, and Frances Wilson – pick a triumphant novel from the prize’s history. The six shortlisted authors have all previously won the prize and are now in the running to win the ultimate accolade. Congratulations to all!
The Winner of Winners shortlist:
| Author/translator (Nationality) | Title (Imprint) – Year of win |
| Craig Brown (UK) | One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time (4th Estate, HarperCollins) – 2020 |
| Wade Davis (Canada) | Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest (The Bodley Head, Vintage, Penguin Random House UK) – 2012 |
| Barbara Demick (US) | Nothing to Envy: Real Lives in North Korea (Granta) – 2010 |
| Patrick Radden Keefe (US) | Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty (Doubleday, Penguin Random House UK) – 2021 |
| Margaret Macmillan (Canada) | Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed The World (formerly Peacemakers: Six Months That Changed The World) (John Murray Press, Hachette) – 2002 |
| James Shapiro (US) | 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare (Faber & Faber) – 2006 |
In tomorrow’s new Read Smart podcast episode, host, Razia Iqbal speaks to Jason Cowley and Sarah Churchwell about the six shortlisted works and why they stand out from the prize’s history. The 25th anniversary has already been marked by the debut of the new documentary, All The Best Stories Are True, which is also available to watch on YouTube. From nail-biting moments to life-changing stories, the documentary delves into the legacy of the prize and what it means to people. The prize’s new website encompasses all angles of the prize’s history and provides a catalog of podcast episodes, and an archive of previously longlisted, shortlisted, and winning books — all enabling readers to find their next non-fiction read.
The winner will be announced on Thursday 27 April at an event held at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Stay up to date by following via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Catch up on all episodes of the Read Smart podcast, generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Soundcloud.