Search

2021

Winner
Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell by John Preston

Shortlist
Consumed: A Sister's Story by Arifa Akbar
The Moth and The Mountain: A True Story Of Love, War and Everest by Ed Caesar
Free: Coming of Age at the End of History by Lea Ypi
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

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2020

​Winner
The Louder I Will Sing by Lee Lawrence

Shortlist
The Man in the Red Coat by Julian Barnes
Dear Life by Rachel Clarke
Ghost Town: A Liverpool Shadow Play by Jeff Young
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2019

Winner
The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather

Shortlist
On Chapel Sands: My mother and other missing persons by Laura Cumming
In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum
The Making of Poetry: Coleridge, the Wordsworths and Their Year of Marvels by Adam Nicolson
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2018

Winner
The Cut Out Girl by Bart van Es

Shortlist
To Throw Away Unopened by Viv Albertine
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah by Benjamin Zephaniah
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2017

Winner
In the Days of Rain by Rebecca Stott

Shortlist
Once Upon a Time in the East: A Story of Growing Up by Xiaolu Guo
A Bold and Dangerous Family: The Rossellis and the Fight Against Mussolini by Caroline Moorehead
Fragile Lives by Professor Stephen Westaby
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2016

Winner
Dadland: A Journey into Uncharted Territory by Keggie Carew
 
Shortlist
Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years by John Guy
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between by Hisham Matar
I'm Not With the Band: A Writer's Life lost in Music by Sylvia Patterson
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2015

Winner
The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt, The Lost Hero of Science by Andrea Wulf
 
Shortlist
The Story of Alice: Lewis Carroll and the Secret History of Wonderland by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst
The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding
John Aubrey: My Own Life by Ruth Scurr
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2014

Winner
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
 
Shortlist
Roy Jenkins: A Well-Rounded Life by John Campbell
The Iceberg: A Memoir by Marion Coutts
Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2013

Winner
The Pike: Gabriele D'Annunzio, Poet, Seducer and Preacher of War by Lucy Hughes-Hallett
 
Shortlist
Empire Antarctica: Ice, Silence & Emperor Penguins by Gavin Francis
Hanns and Rudolf: The German Jew and the Hunt for the Kommandant of Auschwitz by Thomas Harding
The Trip to Echo Spring: Why Writers Drink by Olivia Laing
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2012

Winner
Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes by Mary M Talbot & Bryan Talbot
 
Shortlist
Patrick Leigh-Fermor: An Adventure by Artemis Cooper
The Crocodile by the Door: The story of a house, a farm and a family by Selina Guinness
Serving Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2011

Winner
Now All Roads Lead to France: The Last Years of Edward Thomas by Matthew Hollis
 
Shortlist
Thin Paths: Journeys in and around a Mountain Village by Julia Blackburn
Henry’s Demons: Living with Schizophrenia (A Father and Son’s Story) by Patrick Cockburn & Henry Cockburn
Charles Dickens: A Life by Claire Tomalin
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2010

Winner
The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
 
Shortlist
How to live: A life of Montaigne in twenty questions and one attempt at an answer by Sarah Bakewell
My Father’s Fortune: A Life by Michael Frayn
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2009

Winner
The Strangest Man – The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius by Graham Farmelo
 
Shortlist
The Music Room by William Fiennes
Coda by Simon Gray
Dancing to the Precipice by Caroline Moorehead
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2008

Winner
Somewhere Towards the End by Diana Athill
 
Shortlist
Bloomsbury Ballerina by Judith Mackrell
If You Don’t Know Me By Now by Sathnam Sanghera
Chagall by Jackie Wullschlager
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2007

Winner
Young Stalin by Simon Sebag-Montefiore
 
Shortlist
Rudolf Nureyev by Julie Kavanagh
Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre
Fatty Batter by Michael Simkins
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2006

Winner
Keeping Mum by Brian Thompson
 
Shortlist
George Mackay Brown – The Life by Maggie Fergusson
Donne: A Reformed Soul by John Stubbs
Nabeel’s Song by Jo Tatchell
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

Whitbread Biography Award

2005

Winner
Matisse: The Master by Hilary Spurling
 
Shortlist
Haw-Haw: The Tragedy of William and Margaret Joyce by Nigel Farndale
Nature Cure by Richard Mabey
Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2004

Winner
My Heart is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots by John Guy
 
Shortlist
Jabez: The Rise and Fall of a Victorian Rogue by David McKie
Stephen Spender by John Sutherland
V.S.Pritchett: A Life by Jeremy Treglown
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2003

Winner
Orwell: The Life by DJ Taylor
 
Shortlist
Margaret Thatcher – Volume Two: The Iron Lady by John Campbell
Martha Gellhorn by Caroline Moorehead
Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith by Andrew Wilson
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2002

Winner
Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self by Claire Tomalin
 
Shortlist
Anthony Blunt: His Lives by Miranda Carter
The Real Mrs Miniver by Ysenda Maxtone Graham
Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA by Brenda Maddox
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2001

Winner
Selkirk’s Island by Diana Souhami
 
Shortlist
A View of Delft by Anthony Bailey
Boswell’s Presumptuous Task by Adam Sisman
Flaubert: A Life by Geoffrey Wall
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

2000

Winner
Bad Blood by Lorna Sage
 
Shortlist
Fanny Burney by Claire Harman
John Ruskin: The Later Years by Tim Hilton
Hitler: 1936-45 Nemesis by Ian Kershaw
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1999

Winner
Berlioz, Volume 2  by David Cairns
 
Shortlist
Bruce Chatwin by Nicholas Shakespeare
Matisse by Hilary Spurling
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1998

Winner
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman
 
Shortlist
Iris, A memoir of Iris Murdoch by John Bayley
Hitler, Volume One Hubris 1889 – 1936 by Ian Kershaw
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1997

Winner
Victor Hugo by Graham Robb
 
Shortlist
Violet: The Life and Loves of Violet Gordon Woodhouse by Jessica Douglas-Home
Queen of Whale Cay by Kate Summerscale
Citizen Lord by Stella Tillyard
Hogarth, A Life and a World by Jenny Uglow
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1996

Winner
Thomas Cranmer: A Life by Diarmaid MacCulloch
 
Shortlist
George Eliot: A Life by Rosemary Ashton
The Unruly Queen: The Life of Queen Caroline by Flora Fraser
Damned to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett by James Knowlson
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1995

Winner
Gladstone by Roy Jenkins
 
Shortlist
Vera Brittain – A Life by Paul Berry & Mark Bostridge
Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth by Gitta Sereny
Terence Rattigan by Geoffrey Wansell
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1994

Winner
DH Lawrence: The Married Man by Brenda Maddox

1993

Winner
Philip Larkin: A Writer’s Life by Andrew Motion

1992

Winner
Trollope by Victoria Glendinning

1991

Winner
A Life of Picasso by John Richardson
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1990

Winner
AA Milne: His Life by Ann Thwaite

1989

Winner
Coleridge: Early Visions by Richard Holmes

1988

Winner
Tolstoy by AN Wilson

1987

Winner
Under the Eye of the Clock by Christopher Nolan

1986

Winner
Gilbert White by Richard Mabey
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1985

Winner
Hugh Dalton by Ben Pimlott

1984

Winner
TS Eliot by Peter Ackroyd

1983

Winners
Vita by Victoria Glendinning
King George V by Kenneth Rose

1982

Winner
Bismarck by Edward Crankshaw

1981

Winner
Monty: The Making of a General by Nigel Hamilton
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

1980

Winner
On the Edge of Paradise: AC Benson the Diarist by David Newsome

1979

Winner
About Time by Penelope Mortimer

1978

Winner
Lloyd George: The People's Champion by John Grigg

1977

Winner
Mary Curzon by Nigel Nicolson

1976

Winner
Elizabeth Gaskell by Winifred Gerin
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 

Whitbread Autobiography Award

1975

Winner
In Our Infancy by Helen Corke

Whitbread Biography Award

1974

Winner
Poor Dear Brendan by Andrew Boyle

1973

Winner
CB: A Life of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman by John Wilson

1972

Winner
Trollope by James Pope-Hennessy

1971

Winner
Henrik Ibsen by Michael Meyer
​2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 
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