2012/13 Shortlist
HNS International Award Shortlist
The panel of readers have chosen the following three novels to go forward to the final judges.
The winner will be announced in March.
The Bookbinder’s Daughter
Love’s Alchemy
Lost Paradise
They also wish to offer an honorary mention (for being most difficult to exclude) to:
Claudine in Love
To Tread on Kings
The panel of readers have been delighted with the range and talent of the entrants in this first year of the Award, and hope to run further Awards in the future.
HNS International Award Longlist
The panel of readers are requesting full manuscripts of the following novels for the next stage in choosing the 2012/13 HNS International Award winner.
Entries are anonymous, and the reading panel would prefer that it remains that way – so please, if you are discussing or promoting this list, and know the author of any of the work, don’t give names: it’s not terminal, but it leads to unwanted administrative headaches.
In alphabetical order by title:
The Bookbinder’s Daughter
Gentle love story devastated by prejudice and poverty in late 17th Century Scotland. (‘convincing, sympathetic protagonists, real emotion’)
Claudine in Love
A famous author on the brink of marriage and an infamous life in Belle Epoque Paris. (‘syrupy and sensuous’)
An Englishman’s Home
A dissatisfied Victorian bride agrees to pose for photographs for her husband’s friend, with unforeseen consequences. (‘draws you in very gently’)
Heaven Walker
The story of the greatest sculptor in twelfth century Catalonia, and the tapestry of the life he depicts. (‘very impressed – like stepping into the middle ages’)
Home to the Lake
Aftermath of ill-fated colonial land settlement in coastal New Zealand. (‘Haunting’)
The Licenser
A novel of London in the time of Titus Oates and the Popish Plot. (‘Engaging from the start.’)
Love’s Alchemy
An eminent metaphysical poet is protagonist in this story of patronage and politics in turbulent reformation England. (‘witty and personable, lots of potential’)
Lost Paradise
The impact of the Great War on the gardeners of an English country estate. (‘familiar subject interestingly re-imagined, very well-written’)
Onset of Darkness
The final throes of the Roman Empire seen from a British perspective. (‘massive, ambitious story-line, but it’s still personal’)
Silver
In 1911 the life of a much loved and happily married daughter is shattered by revelations on the death of her father. (‘quirky, high-concept – intriguing so far’)
Strategos
War in the borderlands of Anatolia as the Seljuks bear down on Byzantium. (‘unusual setting. Ticks the ‘soldier book’ boxes’)
Surviving the Flier
True story of US submariners who survive shipwreck in the south Philippines in WWII to face a long journey home. (‘intensely realised’)
To Tread on Kings
Biographical novel of Sir Harry Percy, Hotspur. (‘Convincing… and great to read a novel with ‘tis and ‘twas in again!’)
Tsargrad
Epic tale of the fall of Constantinople from viewpoints on both sides of this seismic event. (‘historical fiction in the Grand Tradition, spectacular subject’)
A Type of Beauty
Fictional biography of the muse and subject of an eminent 19th century artist. (‘movingly depicts the casual brutality of an imperial age’)
In the unlikely event that the panel fail to find 3 suitable novels from the above longlist we reserve the right to request other titles from those already submitted for the award.