Wales Book of the Year

The Wales Book of the Year is a Welsh literary award given annually to the best Welsh and English language works in the fields of fiction and literary criticism by Welsh or Welsh interest authors. Established in 1992, the awards are currently administered by Literature Wales, and supported by the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Books Council.

Competition format

The longlist of ten works in each language is published in April and the shortlist of three works in each language at the Hay Festival in May. The winners are announced in June or July. Since 2006, the winners have each received £10,000. From 2007, four runners-up (two in each language) also each receive £1000. In 2009, Media Wales sponsored a voted "People's Choice" award for the English-language works.^[1]

The format was again changed in 2012, expanding the entries to three categories, fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry; with English and Welsh language winners in each field.^[2]

Winners

English language

Fiction^[3]

2014: Francesca Rhydderch The Rice Paper Diaries
2013: Rhian Edwards Clueless Dogs^[4]
2012: Patrick McGuinness The Last Hundred Days (Seren)^[5]
2011: John Harrison Cloud Road (Parthian)
2010: Philip Gross I Spy Pinhole Eye (Cinnamon Press)
2009: Deborah Kay Davies Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful (Parthian Books)
2008: Dannie Abse The Presence (Hutchinson)
2007: Lloyd Jones Mr Cassini (Seren)
2006: Robert Minhinnick To Babel and Back (Seren)
2005: Owen Sheers The Dust Diaries (Faber and Faber)
2004: Niall Griffiths Stump (Jonathan Cape)
2003: Charlotte Williams Sugar and Slate (Planet)
2002: Stevie Davies The Element of Water (The Women’s Press)
2001: Stephen Knight Mr Schnitzel (Viking)
2000: Sheenagh Pugh Stonelight (Seren)
1999: Emyr Humphreys The Gift of a Daughter (Seren)
1998: Mike Jenkins Wanting to Belong (Seren)
1997: Siân James Not Singing Exactly (Honno)
1996: Nigel Jenkins Gwalia in Khasia (Gomer)
1995: Duncan Bush Masks (Seren)
1994: Paul Ferris Caitlin: The Life of Caitlin Thomas (Hutchinson)
1993: Robert Minhinnick Watching the Fire Eater (Seren)
1992: Emyr Humphreys Bonds of Attachment (Macdonald/Sphere)

Creative non-fiction

2014: Meic Stephens Rhys Davies: A Writer's Life
2012: Richard Gwyn The Vagabond's Breakfast (Alcemi)

Roland Mathias Poetry Award

2014 Owen Sheers - Pink Mist (Faber & Faber)
2012 Gwyneth Lewis - Sparrow Tree (Bloodaxe Books)

Welsh language

Fiction^[6]

2014: Ioan Kidd Dewis (Gomer)
2013: Heini Gruffudd, Yr Erlid ^[4]
2012: Jon Gower, Y Storiwr (Gomer)^[5]
2011: Ned Thomas, Bydoedd (Y Lolfa)
2010: John Davies, Cymru: Y 100 lle i'w gweld cyn marw (Y Lolfa)
2009: Wiliam Owen Roberts Petrograd (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
2008: Gareth Miles Y Proffwyd a'l Ddwy Jesebel (Hutchinson)
2007: Llwyd Owen Ffydd Gobaith Cariad (Y Lolfa)
2006: Rhys Evans Gwynfor: Rhag Pob Brad (Y Lolfa)
2005: Caryl Lewis Martha, Jac a Sianco (Y Lolfa)
2004: Jerry Hunter Llwch Cenhedloedd (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch)
2003: Angharad Price O! Tyn y Gorchudd (Gomer)
2002: Grahame Davies Cadwyni Rhyddid (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
2001: Owen Martell Cadw dy ffydd, brawd (Gomer)
2000: Gwyneth Lewis Y Llofrudd Iaith (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
1999: R. M. Jones Ysbryd y Cwlwm: Delwedd y Genedl yn ein Llenyddiaeth (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)
1998: Iwan Llwyd Dan Ddylanwad (Gwasg Tâf)
1997: Gerwyn Wiliams Tir Neb: Rhyddiaith Gymraeg a’r Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)
1996: Sonia Edwards Glöynnod (Gwasg Gwynedd)
1995: Aled Islwyn Unigolion, Unigeddau (Gomer)
1994: T. Robin Chapman W.J. Gruffydd (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)
1993: Robin Llywelyn Seren Wen ar Gefndir Gwyn (Gomer)
1992: Gerallt Lloyd Owen Cilmeri (Gwasg Gwynedd)