Costa Book Award for Biography

The Costa Book Award for Biography, formerly part of the Whitbread Book Awards (1971–2006), was an annual literary award for children's books, part of the Costa Book Awards. The award concluded in 2022.[1][2]

Recipients

Costa Books of the Year are distinguished wit a blue ribbon (Blue ribbon).

Year Author Title Subject Result Ref.
1971 Michael Meyer Henrik Ibsen Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), Norwegian playwright and theatre director Winner
1972 James Pope-Hennessy Anthony Trollope Anthony Trollope (1815–1882), English novelist of the Victorian period Winner
1973 John Wilson CB: A Life of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman(1836–1908), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 Winner
1974 Andrew Boyle Poor, Dear Brendan: The Quest for Brendan Bracken Brendan Bracken (1901–1958), Irish-born businessman and British politician Winner
1975 Helen Corke In Our Infancy Helen Corke (1882–1978), English writer and schoolteacher Winner
1976 Winifred Gerin Elizabeth Gaskell Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865), English writer Winner
1977 Nigel Nicolson Mary Curzon Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston(1870–1906), British noble, Vicereine of India Winner
1978 John Grigg Lloyd George: The People's Champion Lloyd George (1863–1945), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922 Winner
1979 Penelope Mortimer About Time Penelope Mortimer (1918–1999), Welsh-born English writer Winner
1980 David Newsome On the Edge of Paradise: A. C. Benson, Diarist A. C. Benson (1862–1925), English essayist and poet Winner
1981 Nigel Hamilton Monty: The Making of a General Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery KG, GCB, DSO, PC, DL (1887–1976), the first Viscount Montgomery of Alamein Winner
1982 Edward Crankshaw Bismarck Otto von Bismarck (1871–1890), also known as the Iron Chancellor, the first Chancellor of Germany Winner
1983 Victoria Glendinning Vita The Honorable Victoria Mary Sackville-West, Lady Nicolson, CH (1892–1962), English author and garden designer (1892–1962) Winner
Kenneth Rose King George V King George V (1865–1936), King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India 1910–1936 Winner
1984 Peter Ackroyd T. S. Eliot T. S. Eliot (1888–1965), US-born British poet Winner
1985 Ben Pimlott Hugh Dalton Hugh Dalton (1887–1962), British Labour politician Winner
1986 Richard Mabey Gilbert White Gilbert White (1720–1793), English naturalist, ecologist, and ornithologist; author of Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne Winner
1987 Christopher Nolan Under the Eye of the Clock Blue ribbon Christopher Nolan (1965–2009), Irish poet and author Winner
1988 A. N. Wilson Tolstoy Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910), Russian writer, author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina Winner
1989 Richard Holmes Coleridge: Early Visions Blue ribbon Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834), English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian Winner
1990 Ann Thwaite AA Milne–His Life Blue ribbon A. A. Milne (1882–1956), British author Winner
1991 John Richardson A Life of Picasso Blue ribbon Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), 20th-century Spanish painter and sculptor Winner
1992 Victoria Glendinning Trollope Anthony Trollope (1815–1882), English novelist of the Victorian period Winner
1993 Andrew Motion Philip Larkin: A Writer's Life Philip Larkin (1922–1985), English writer, jazz critic and librarian Winner
1994 Brenda Maddox D H Lawrence: The Married Man D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930), English writer and poet Winner
1995 Roy Jenkins Gladstone William Gladstone (1809–1898), British Liberal prime minister Winner
Paul Berry and Mark Bostridge Vera Brittain–A Life Vera Brittain (1893–1970), English nurse and writer
Gitta Sereny Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth Albert Speer (1905–1981), Architect and Minister of War Production in Nazi Germany
Geoffrey Wansell Terence Rattigan Terence Rattigan (1911–1977), British playwright and screenwriter
1996 Diarmaid MacCulloch Thomas Cranmer: A Life Thomas Cranmer (1489–1556), 16th-century English Archbishop of Canterbury and Protestant reformer Winner
Rosemary Ashton George Eliot: A Life George Eliot (1819–1880), English novelist, essayist, poet, journalist, and translator Shortlist
Flora Fraser The Unruly Queen: The Life of Queen Caroline Caroline of Brunswick, (1768–1821), Queen of the United Kingdom and Hanover as the wife of King George IV
James Knowlson Damned to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett Samuel Beckett (1906–1989), Nobel-winning modernist Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, translator and poet
1997 Graham Robb Victor Hugo Victor Hugo (1802–1885), French novelist, poet, and dramatist Winner
Jessica Douglas-Home Violet: The Life and Loves of Violet Gordon Woodhouse Violet Gordon-Woodhouse (1872–1948), British harpsichordist and clavichordist Shortlist
Kate Summerscale Queen of Whale Cay Marion "Joe" Carstairs (1900–1993), Wealthy British power boat racer known for their speed, eccentric lifestyle, and gender nonconformity
Stella Tillyard Citizen Lord Lord Edward FitzGerald (1763–1798), Irish revolutionary
Jenny Uglow Hogarth, A Life and a World William Hogarth (1697–1764), English artist and social critic
1998 Amanda Foreman Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (1757–1806), English socialite, political organiser, style icon, author, and activist Winner
John Bayley Iris, A memoir of Iris Murdoch Iris Murdoch (1919–1999), Irish-born British writer and philosopher Shortlist
Ian Kershaw Hitler, Volume One Hubris 1889–1936 Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany (1889–1945)
1999 David Cairns Berlioz Volume Two: Servitude and Greatness Hector Berlioz (1803–1869), French music composer and conductor Winner
Nicholas Shakespeare Bruce Chatwin Bruce Chatwin (1940–1989), English writer, novelist and journalist Shortlist
Hilary Spurling Matisse Henri Matisse (1869–1954), 20th-century French artist
2000 Lorna Sage Bad Blood–A Memoir Lorna Sage (1943–2001), English academic, literary critic and author Winner
Claire Harman Fanny Burney Fanny Burney (1752–1840), English diarist, novelist and playwright; the first literary woman novelist Shortlist
Tim Hilton John Ruskin: The Later Years John Ruskin (1819–1900), English writer and art critic
Ian Kershaw Hitler: 1936–45 Nemesis Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany (1889–1945)
2001 Diana Souhami Selkirk's Island Alexander Selkirk (1676–1721), Scottish sailor and castaway Winner
Anthony Bailey Vermeer: A View of Delft Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675), Dutch painter Shortlist
Adam Sisman Boswell's Presumptuous Task: The Making of the Life of Dr. Johnson James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck (1740–1795), author of The Life of Samuel Johnson, which is discussed in Sisman's biography
Geoffrey Wall Flaubert: A Life Gustave Flaubert 1821–1880), French novelist
2002 Claire Tomalin Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self Blue ribbon Samuel Pepys (1633–1703), English diarist Winner
Miranda Carter Anthony Blunt: His Lives Anthony Blunt (1907–1983), British art historian, Soviet spy Shortlist
Brenda Maddox Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958), British chemist, biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer
Ysenda Maxtone Graham The Real Mrs Miniver Jan Struther (1901–1953), author of the book-turned-film Mrs. Miniver
2003 DJ Taylor Orwell: The Life George Orwell (1903–1950), English author and journalist Winner
John Campbell Margaret Thatcher - Volume Two: The Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 Shortlist
Caroline Moorehead Martha Gellhorn Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998), American journalist
Andrew Wilson Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith Patricia Highsmith(1921–1995), American novelist and short story writer
2004 John Guy My Heart Is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), Queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1567 Winner
David McKie Jabez: The Rise and Fall of a Victorian Rogue Jabez Spencer Balfour (1843–1916), businessman, philanthropist, politician, temperance campaigner and charmer Shortlist
John Sutherland Stephen Spender Stephen Spender (1909–1995), English poet and man of letters
Jeremy Treglown V.S. Pritchett: A Working Life V.S. Pritchett (1900–1997), British writer and literary critic
2005 Hilary Spurling Matisse the Master Henri Matisse (1869–1954), 20th-century French artist Winner
Nigel Farndale Haw-Haw: The Tragedy of William and Margaret Joyce William and Margaret Joyce (1900s), American-born fascist politician and Nazi propaganda broadcaster Shortlist
Richard Mabey Nature Cure Richard Mabey (born 1941), British writer and broadcaster
Alexander Masters Stuart: A Life Backwards Stuart Clive Shorter, prisoner and a career criminal
2006 Brian Thompson Keeping Mum Brian Thompson Winner
Maggie Fergusson George Mackay Brown: The Life George Mackay Brown (1921–1996), Scottish poet 1921–1996 Shortlist
John Stubbs John Donne: The Reformed Soul John Donne (1572–1631), English poet and cleric
Jo Tatchell Nabeel's Song: A Family Story of Survival in Iraq Nabeel Yasin(born 1950), Iraqi poet, journalist and political activist
2007 Simon Sebag Montefiore Young Stalin Joseph Stalin (1878–1953), Leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1953 Winner
Julie Kavanagh Rudolf Nureyev Rudolf Nureyev (1938–1993), Soviet-born ballet dancer and choreographer Shortlist
Ben Macintyre Agent Zigzag Eddie Chapman (1914–1997), Double agent for Britain during World War 2
Michael Simkins Fatty Batter Michael Simkins
2008 Diana Athill Somewhere Towards the End Diana Athill (1917–2019), British literary editor, novelist and memoirist Winner [3]
Judith Mackrell Bloomsbury Ballerina Lydia Lopokova (1892–1981), Russian ballet dancer Shortlist
Sathnam Sanghera If You Don't Know Me By Now: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton Sathnam Sanghera (born 1976), British journalist and author
Jackie Wullschlager Chagall Marc Chagall (1887–1985), Russian-French artist
2009 Graham Farmelo The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius Paul Dirac (1902–1984), English theoretical physicist Winner [4]
William Fiennes The Music Room William Fiennes (born 1970), English author Shortlist
Simon Gray Coda Simon Gray (1936–2008), English playwright and memoirist
Caroline Moorehead Dancing to the Precipice Henriette-Lucy, Marquise de La Tour du Pin Gouvernet (1770–1853), French aristocrat famous for her posthumously published memoirs, Journal d'une femme de 50 ans
2010 Edmund de Waal The Hare with Amber Eyes Ephrussis family, 20th-century Ukrainian Jewish banking and oil dynasty Winner [5][6]
Sarah Bakewell How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592), one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance Shortlist
Michael Frayn My Father's Fortune Michael Frayn (born 1933), English playwright and novelist
2011 Matthew Hollis Now All Roads Lead to France: The Last Years of Edward Thomas Edward Thomas (1878–1917), a seminal poet in the history of British literature known for his work exploring the notions of disconnection and unsettledness Winner [7][8]
Julia Blackburn Thin Paths: Journeys In and Around an Italian Mountain Village Julia Blackburn (born 1948), British author of both fiction and non-fiction Shortlist [9]
Patrick Cockburn and Henry Cockburn Henry’s Demons: Living with Schizophrenia, A Father and Son’s Story
Claire Tomalin Charles Dickens: A Life Charles Dickens (1812–1870), English writer and social critic
2012 Mary Talbot and Bryan Talbot Dotter of Her Father's Eyes Winner [10][11]
Artemis Cooper Patrick Leigh-Fermor: An Adventure Sir Patrick Michael Leigh Fermor (1915–2011), British author and soldier
Selina Guinness The Crocodile by the Door: The Story of a House, a Farm and a Family Selina Guinness
Kate Hubbard Serving Victoria: Life in the Royal Household
2013 Lucy Hughes-Hallett The Pike: Gabriele D'Annunzio, Poet, Seducer and Preacher of War Gabriele D'Annunzio (1863–1938), Italian writer Winner [12][13]
Gavin Francis Empire Antarctica: Ice, Silence & Emperor Penguins Gavin Francis (born 1975) Scottish physician and a writer on travel and medical matters Shortlist [14][15]
Thomas Harding Hanns and Rudolf: The German Jew and the Hunt for the Kommandant of Auschwitz Hanns Alexander (1917–2006), German Jewish refugee who tracked down and arrested the Kommandant of Auschwitz Rudolf Höss
Olivia Laing The Trip to Echo Spring: Why Writers Drink
2014 Helen Macdonald H is for Hawk Blue ribbon Winner [16][17]
John Campbell Roy Jenkins: a Well-Rounded Life Roy Jenkins (1920–2003), British politician, historian and writer Shortlist [18][19]
Marion Coutts The Iceberg: a Memoir Tom Lubbock, the chief art critic for The Independent
Henry Marsh Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery
2015 Andrea Wulf The Invention of Nature Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), Prussian geographer, naturalist and explorer Winner [20]
Robert Douglas-Fairhurst The Story of Alice: Lewis Carroll and the Secret History of Wonderland Lewis Carroll (1832–1898), British writer, Anglican deacon and photographer, author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Shortlist [21]
Thomas Harding The House by the Lake
Ruth Scurr John Aubrey: My Own Life John Aubrey (1626–1697), English writer and antiquarian
2016 Keggie Carew Dadland: A Journey into Uncharted Territory Winner
John Guy Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years Shortlist [22]
Hisham Matar The Return
Sylvia Patterson I’m Not With the Band
2017 Rebecca Stott In the Days of Rain Rebecca Stott (born 1964), British writer and broadcaster Winner [23]
Xiaolu Guo Once Upon a Time in the East: A Story of Growing Up Shortlist [24][25]
Caroline Moorehead A Bold and Dangerous Family: The Rossellis and the Fight Against Mussolini
Stephen Westaby Fragile Lives: A Heart Surgeon’s Stories of Life and Death on the Operating Table
2018 Bart van Es The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found Blue ribbon Winner [26][27]
2019 Jack Fairweather The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz Blue ribbon Witold Pilecki (1901–1948), Polish underground resistance soldier and World War II concentration camp resistance leader Winner [28][29]
Laura Cumming On Chapel Sands: My Mother and Other Missing Persons Shortlist [30]
Adam Nicolson The Making of Poetry Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English poet, literary critic and philosopher (1772–1834), and William Wordsworth, English Romantic poet (1770–1850)
Lindsey Hilsum In Extremis Marie Colvin, American journalist who worked as a foreign affairs correspondent
2020 Lee Lawrence The Louder I Will Sing Winner [31]
2021 John Preston Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell Winner [32][33]
Arifa Akbar Consumed: A Sister’s Story Shortlist [34]
Ed Caesar The Moth and the Mountain: A True Story of Love, War and Everest
Lea Ypi Free: Coming of Age at the End of History

References

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  3. ^ "Awards: Costa Book Awards Category Winners". Shelf Awareness. January 6, 2009. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  4. ^ "Awards: Costa Book Awards". Shelf Awareness. January 5, 2010. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  5. ^ "Awards: Costa; DBW Publishing Innovation; Dilys Shortlist". Shelf Awareness. January 26, 2011. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  6. ^ "Awards: Costa Category Winners". Shelf Awareness. January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  7. ^ "Awards: Costa Book of the Year". Shelf Awareness. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  8. ^ "Awards: Costa Winners". Shelf Awareness. January 4, 2012. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
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  10. ^ "Awards: Costa Category Winners". Shelf Awareness. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
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  12. ^ "Former winners recapture Costa prize". BBC News. 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Awards: Costa; Pacific Northwest; Arabic Fiction". Shelf Awareness. January 7, 2014. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  14. ^ Mark Brown (26 November 2013). "Costa book awards 2013: late author on all-female fiction shortlist". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
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  16. ^ "Helen Macdonald wins 2014 Costa book award for 'haunting' H is for Hawk". Guardian. 27 January 2015. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
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  22. ^ Sian Cain (22 November 2016). "Costa book award 2016 shortlists dominated by female writers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
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