Longlist unveiled for 2018 Walter Scott Prize

The late British writer Helen Dunmore and the acclaimed US novelist Jennifer Egan are among those writers in the running for one of the most revered prizes recognising historical fiction.

The duo are among the frontrunners for the Walter Scott Prize, with the winner set to be announced at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose on 15 June.

Organiserssaidtheyreceived a record number of entries for the award, with 134 entries submissions in 2018 compared to 96 the previous year.

A panel tasked with selecting the overall winner has whittled the number of entries down a longlist of 13, which was published yesterday.

Other authors in the running include Australia’s Dennis Glover and Xan Brooks, part of the founding editorial team at the Big Issue magazine.

The judges of the prize, who include Alistair Moffat, Kirsty Wark, and James Naughtie, said the calibre of the entries showed how historical fiction was continuing to “ride a wave of publishing success”.

In a statement, they said of their selection: “All human life is here, from outlaws making a living forging coins in Yorkshire’s badlands, to post-war London theatre society.”

Ashortlistwillbeannounced in April, with the overall winner in line to receive a cheque for £25,000.