THE WINSTON GRAHAM PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION

​

LATEST NEWS: 

The latest winner of the Winston Graham Historical Prize was announced at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery on Thursday 12th March, 2026,  A large crowd of guests gathered to see which of the shortlisted authors would scoop the prestigious prize, which comes with a cheque for £3,000 and the seal of approval from a large group of discerning readers and a panel of expert judges. Winston Graham, author of the Poldark novels, was a fond user of the museum in Truro where he researched and wrote some of his material; last night those gathered were honoured to be joined by Winston’s son, Dr. Andrew Graham, for the presentation ceremony.

​

Benjamin Wood’s Seascraper, published by Penguin Random House, was the ultimate winner; set in Northern England in the 1960s, Wood’s fifth novel has been described by critics as timeless, with a cinematic setting and a captivating protagonist. Benjamin said: “It's a great honour to receive the Winston Graham Historical Prize, not least because it's an award that celebrates writing with a strong sense of place. More and more, I've come to understand that the atmosphere of a story's setting is the thing which most informs and motivates my process as a fiction writer, and this is particularly true of Seascraper, which I built from memories, experiences, and research into the heritage of my hometown of Southport. I was so pleased to have been shortlisted alongside four authors whose work is so varied and exceptional, and I'm delighted my book has been given this meaningful recognition.”

​

The five titles on the short list and further information may be found here..  Details of the 2027 award will be linked here when available. The 2026 prize was generously sponsored by Hotel Tresanton, with support from St Eval, Old Chapel Cellars, The Sea Shed and Amanda Taffinder Flowers.

​

ABOUT THE PRIZE

The Prize was first awarded in 2008 with a generous legacy in Winston Graham’s will to the Royal Institution of Cornwall in Truro, which runs the Royal Cornwall Museum (RCM) and the Courtney Library. In 2023 the Royal Cornwall Museum decided the prize should be relaunched –  now open to entries from across the nation. The main entry criterion was that it should be ‘an historical novel with a powerful sense of place’ set within the bounds of the United Kingdom.