Specsavers National Book Awards

The Specsavers National Book Awards, or simply National Book Awards — previously known as the Galaxy National Book Awards (2010–11); British Book Awards or Nibbies (1990–2009) — is a British literary award for the best UK writers and their works, as selected by an academy of members from the British book publishing industry. As of 2012–13, the awards are organised and governed by Agile Marketing and sponsored by Specsavers, among others.^[1]

The shortlists are created by around 50 individuals from the National Book Awards Academy, who are drawn from retailer chain buyers, independent booksellers, wholesalers and trade press columnists.^[2] Winners are then chosen by the entire 750-strong National Book Awards Academy by way of vote. Each member gets one vote per category and the most votes wins.^[2] The criteria for a winning book is primarily the appeal, profile and sales impact of the title concerned.^[2]

From 2010–11, the headline sponsor was Galaxy. Prior to 2010, it was known as the British Book Awards and was promoted by the UK publishing industry trade journal Publishing News. It was also known as the Nibbies because of the golden nib-shaped trophy given to winners.^[3]

In May 2017, the British Book Awards returned, presented by The Bookseller.^[4]

National Book Award winners[edit]

The latest National Book Awards were generally announced or presented 26 November 2014 at the Foreign Office. Four weeks later, Jessie Burton's debut novel The Miniaturist was named 2014 Book of the Year, or "Britain's favourite book".^[5]

Book of the Year[edit]

Starting in 2010, the Best was chosen by the public via open internet vote from among one of the winning books in the other categories. Prior to 2010 the Best was a unique winner.

2014 – The Miniaturist – Jessie Burton^[6]
2013 – The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman^[7]
2012 – Fifty Shades of Grey – EL James^[8]
2011 – How To Be A Woman – Caitlin Moran
2010 – One Day – David Nicholls
2009 – The Suspicions of Mr Whicher – Kate Summerscale
2008 – On Chesil Beach – Ian McEwan (Jonathan Cape)
2007 – The Dangerous Book for Boys – Con and Hal Iggulden (Harpercollins)
2006 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – JK Rowling (Bloomsbury)
2005 – The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown (Corgi)
2004 – Eats, Shoots & Leaves – Lynne Truss (Profile)
2003 – Stupid White Men – Michael Moore (Penguin)
2002 – Billy – Pamela Stephenson (HarperCollins)
2001 – Man and Boy – Tony Parsons (HarperCollins)
2000 – Managing My Life – Alex Ferguson (Hodder & Stoughton)
1999 – Birthday Letters – Ted Hughes (Faber & Faber)
1998 – Bridget Jones's Diary – Helen Fielding (Picador)
1997 – Longitude – Dava Sobel (Fourth Estate)
1996 – Delia Smith's Winter Collection (BBC Books)
1995 – Writing Home – Alan Bennett (Faber & Faber)
1994 – Wild Swans – Jung Chang (Flamingo)

Outstanding Achievement[edit]

Previously called the Lifetime Achievement Award (1993–2009). Renamed to Outstanding Achievement Award in 2010.

2014 – Mary Berry^[9]
2013 – (no award)
2012 – Ian Rankin ^[10]
2011 – Jackie Collins
2010 – Martin Amis and Terry Pratchett
2009 – (no award)
2008 – J K Rowling
2007 – John Grisham
2006 – Jamie Oliver
2005 – Sir John Mortimer
2004 – Sir David Attenborough
2003 – Alan Bennett
2002 – Mark Barty-King
2001 – Ernest Hecht
2000 – Spike Milligan
1999 – Maeve Binchy
1998 – Jilly Cooper
1997 – Paul Scherer
1996 – Wilbur Smith
1995 – Delia Smith
1994 – Catherine Cookson
1993 – Dr. D. G. Hessayon

UK Author of the Year[edit]

Previously called Author of the Year. Renamed to UK Author of the Year in 2010.

2014 – David Nicholls – Us^[9]
2013 – Kate Atkinson – Life After Life ^[11]
2012 – Hilary Mantel – Bring Up the Bodies^[10]
2011 – Alan Hollinghurst – The Stranger's Child
2010 – Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall
2009 – Aravind Adiga
2008 – Ian McEwan
2007 – Richard Dawkins
2006 – Alan Bennett
2005 – Sheila Hancock
2004 – Alexander McCall Smith
2003 – Sarah Waters
2002 – Philip Pullman
2001 – Nigella Lawson
2000 – J K Rowling ^[12]
1999 – Beryl Bainbridge ^[13]
1998 – Louis de Bernières
1997 – Bill Bryson
1996 – Salman Rushdie
1995 – Sebastian Faulks
1994 – Roddy Doyle
1993 – Andrew Morton
1992 – Peter Mayle
1991 – Peter Ackroyd
1990 – Prince of Wales

International Author of the Year[edit]

2014 – We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves – Karen Joy Fowler^[9]
2013 – Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn^[11]
2012 – The Snow Child – Eowyn Ivey^[10]
2011 – A Visit From the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan
2010 – Freedom – Jonathan Franzen

Children's Book of the Year[edit]

Previously called British Children's Book of the Year. Renamed to Children's Book of the Year in 2010.

2014 – Awful Auntie – David Walliams^[9]
2013 – Demon Dentist – David Walliams^[11]
2012 – Ratburger – David Walliams^[10]
2011 – A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness
2010 – Zog – Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
2009 – Breaking Dawn – Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown)
2008 – Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman – Francesca Simon (Orion Children's Books)
2007 – Flanimals of the Deep – Ricky Gervais (Faber & Faber)
2006 – Ark Angel – Anthony Horowitz (Walker Books)
2005 – The Gruffalo's Child – Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Macmillan Children's Books)
2004 – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark Haddon (David Fickling)
2003 – Girls in Tears – Jacqueline Wilson (Corgi Children's)
2002 – Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer (Viking/Puffin)
2001 – The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman (Scholastic)
2000 – The Illustrated Mum – Jacqueline Wilson (Doubleday)
1999 – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J K Rowling (Bloomsbury)
1998 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone – J K Rowling (Bloomsbury)
1997 – Northern Lights – Philip Pullman (Scholastic)
1996 – The Hutchinson treasury of Children's Literature ed – Alison Sage (Hutchinson)

New Writer of the Year[edit]

Previously called the Newcomer of the Year. Name changed to New Writer of the Year in 2010.

2014 – Jessie Burton – The Miniaturist
2013 – Liza Klaussman – Tigers in Red Weather^[11]
2012 – Rachel Joyce – The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry^[10]
2011 – Sarah Winman – When God Was a Rabbit
2010 – Edmund de Waal – The Hare with Amber Eyes
2009 – Tom Rob Smith
2008 – Catherine O'Flynn
2007 – Victoria Hislop
2006 – Marina Lewycka
2005 – Susanna Clarke
2004 – Monica Ali
2003 – Allison Pearson
2002 – Pete McCarthy
2001 – Zadie Smith
2000 – Chris Stewart – Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia
1999 – Borders UK
1998 – Daisy & Tom
1997 – Kate Atkinson
1990 – Bryce Courtenay

Biography/Autobiography of the Year[edit]

Previously called Biography of the Year. Name changed to Biography/Autobiography of the Year in 2010.

2014 – Please, Mister Postman – Alan Johnson^[9]
2013 – David Jason: My Life – David Jason^[11]
2012 – My Animals and Other Family – Clare Balding^[10]
2011 – Charles Dickens – Claire Tomalin
2010 – The Fry Chronicles – Stephen Fry
2009 – Dreams From My Father – Barack Obama (Canongate)
2008 – My Booky Wook – Russell Brand (Hodder & Stoughton)
2007 – The Sound of Laughter – Peter Kay (Century)
2006 – Sharon Osbourne Extreme – Sharon Osbourne (Time Warner)
2005 – My Life – Bill Clinton (Hutchinson)
2004 – Toast – Nigel Slater (Fourth Estate)
2003 – Churchill: A Biography – Roy Jenkins (Pan)

Popular Fiction Book of the Year[edit]

Previously called Popular Fiction Award. Name changed to Popular Fiction Book of the Year in 2010.

2014 – The Shock of the Fall – Nathan Filer^[9]
2013 – An Officer and a Spy – Robert Harris^[11]
2012 – Fifty Shades of Grey – E. L. James^[10]
2011 – A Tiny Bit Marvellous – Dawn French
2010 – One Day – David Nicholls
2009 – Devil May Care – Sebastian Faulks (Penguin)
2008 – The Memory Keeper's Daughter – Kim Edwards (Penguin)
2006 – Anybody Out There – Marian Keyes (Michael Joseph)
2006 – The Time Traveler's Wife – Audrey Niffenegger (Vintage)

Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year[edit]

2014 – Love, Nina – Nina Stibbe^[9]
2013 – I Am Malala – Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb^[11]
2012 – Is It Just Me – Miranda Hart^[10]
2011 – How To Be a Woman – Caitlin Moran
2010 – The Making of Modern Britain – Andrew Marr

Audiobook of the Year[edit]

2014 – Awful Auntie – David Walliams^[14]
2013 – The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman, read by the author (Headline)^[11]
2012 – The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year – Sue Townsend, read by Caroline Quentin^[10]
2011 – My Dear I Wanted to Tell You – Louisa Young, read by Dan Stevens
2005–2010 – (no award)
2004 – Forgotten Voices of the Great War – Max Arthur (Random House)
2003 – Series of Unfortunate Events – written by Lemony Snicket, read by Tim Curry (Collins)
2002 – The Laying on of Hands – written and read by Alan Bennett (BBC Radio Collection)

Thriller & Crime Novel of the Year[edit]

Previously called the Crime Thriller of the Year. Name changed to Thriller & Crime Novel of the Year in 2011.

2014 – I Am Pilgrim – Terry Hayes^[9]
2013 – The Carrier – Sophie Hannah (Hodder)^[11]
2012 – A Wanted Man – Lee Child^[10]
2011 – Before I Go to Sleep – S. J. Watson
2010 – (no award)
2009 – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson
2008 – Book of the Dead – Patricia Cornwell (Little,Brown)
2007 – The Naming of the Dead – Ian Rankin (Orion)
2006 – The Take – Martina Cole (Headline)
2005 – Fleshmarket Close – Ian Rankin (Orion)

Food & Drink Book of the Year[edit]

2014 – Plenty More – Yotam Ottolenghi^[14]
2013 – Eat – Nigel Slater (HarperCollins)^[11]
2012 – The Hairy Dieters – Si King and Dave Myers^[10]
2011 – The Good Cook – Simon Hopkinson
2010 – Plenty – Yotam Ottolenghi

Paperback of the Year[edit]

2011 – Room – Emma Donoghue

Retired awards[edit]

The following awards are no longer active.

Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year[edit]

2009 – When Will There Be Good News? – Kate Atkinson (Doubleday)
2008 – A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini (Bloomsbury)
2007 – The Interpretation of Murder – Jed Rubenfeld (Headline Review)
2006 – Labyrinth – Kate Mosse (Orion)
2005 – Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell (Sceptre)
2004 – The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold (Picador)

The Children's Author of the Year[edit]

1995 – Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg
1994 – Anne Fine
1993 – Raymond Briggs
1992 – Dick King-Smith
1991 – Anne Fine
1990 – Roald Dahl

Illustrated Children's Book of the Year[edit]

1995 – The Most Amazing Pop-Up Science Book – Jay Young (Watts Books)
1994 – Mummy Laid an Egg – Babette Cole (Jonathan Cape)
1993 – Penguin Small – Mick Inkpen (Hodder)
1992 – Farmer Duck – Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books)
1991 – The Mousehole Cat – Nicola Bayley (Walker Books)

Illustrated Book of the Year[edit]

2004 – England's Thousand Best Houses – Simon Jenkins (Allen Lane)
2003 – Sahara – Michael Palin (Weidenfeld Nicolson Illustrated)
2002 – The Blue Planet – Andrew Byatt, Alastair Fothergill, Martha Holmes (BBC Worldwide)
2001 – The Beatles Anthology (Cassell)
2000 – Century – Bruce Bernard (Phaidon Press)
1999 – Ethel and Ernest – Raymond Briggs (Jonathan Cape)
1998 – The Lost Gardens of Heligan – Tim Smit (Gollancz)
1997 – Flora Britannica – Richard Mabey (Sinclair-Stevenson)
1996 – The River Cafe Cookbook – Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers (Ebury Press)
1995 – The Art Book (Phaidon Press)

The TV and Film Book of the Year[edit]

2007 – The Devil Wears Prada – Lauren Weisberger (HarperCollins)
2006 – The Constant Gardener – John le Carré (Hodder & Stoughton)
2005 – Himalaya – Michael Palin (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
2004 – How Clean Is Your House? – Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie (Michael Joseph)
2003 – What Not to Wear – Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

The Fastest Selling Biography of All Time[edit]

2004 – My Side – David Beckham (CollinsWillow)

The Travel Writer of the Year[edit]

1993 – Michael Palin – Pole to Pole (BBC Books)
1992 – Mark Shand – Travels on my Elephant (Jonathan Cape)
1991 – V.S. Naipaul – India (Heinemann)
1990 – Peter Mayle – A Year in Provence (Hamish Hamilton)

The Fantasy and Science Fiction Author of the Year[edit]

1994 – Terry Pratchett

Bestseller of the Year[edit]

1991 – Delia Smith's Christmas (BBC Books)

References[edit]

^ "Specsavers announced as headline sponsor". nationalbookawards.co.uk. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c National Book Awards FAQ, official website.
^ Hoyle, Ben (22 March 2008). "Katie Price shortlisted for WH Smith Children’s Book of the Year". London: The Times. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
^ "THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS - A HISTORY".
^ "Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist Wins Specsavers Book Of The Year 2014 Award". 22 December 2014. National Book Awards. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
^ "Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist Wins Specsavers Book Of The Year 2014 Award". National Book Awards. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
^ Press Association (26 December 2013). "Neil Gaiman novel wins Book of the Year". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
^ Alison Flood (26 December 2012). "Fifty Shades of Grey voted the most popular book of 2012". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Alison Flood (27 November 2014). "David Nicholls and David Walliams win top prizes at National Book Awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Alison Flood (5 December 2012). "EL James comes out on top at National Book awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "Neil Gaiman Wins Specsavers Book of the Year 2013!". nationalbookawards.co.uk. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
^ "JK Rowling Biography". Biography Channel. Retrieved 26 August 2013. Rowling was named Author of The Year at the British Book Awards in 2000
^ "Entertainment Bainbridge author of the year". BBC. 5 February 1999. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
^ ^a ^b "Mary Berry wins outstanding achievement book award". BBC News. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.

External links[edit]

Official website
British Book Awards - previous winners at the Wayback Machine (archived 5 April 2007)

[1] "Specsavers announced as headline sponsor". nationalbookawards.co.uk. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.

[faq-2] National Book Awards FAQ, official website.

[3] Hoyle, Ben (22 March 2008). "Katie Price shortlisted for WH Smith Children’s Book of the Year". London: The Times. Retrieved 6 April 2008.

[4] "THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS - A HISTORY".

[5] "Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist Wins Specsavers Book Of The Year 2014 Award". 22 December 2014. National Book Awards. Retrieved 15 March 2015.

[6] "Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist Wins Specsavers Book Of The Year 2014 Award". National Book Awards. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.

[7] Press Association (26 December 2013). "Neil Gaiman novel wins Book of the Year". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2013.

[8] Alison Flood (26 December 2012). "Fifty Shades of Grey voted the most popular book of 2012". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 December 2012.

[flood2014-9] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Alison Flood (27 November 2014). "David Nicholls and David Walliams win top prizes at National Book Awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2015.

[flood2012-10] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Alison Flood (5 December 2012). "EL James comes out on top at National Book awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2012.

[nba2013-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "Neil Gaiman Wins Specsavers Book of the Year 2013!". nationalbookawards.co.uk. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.

[12] "JK Rowling Biography". Biography Channel. Retrieved 26 August 2013. Rowling was named Author of The Year at the British Book Awards in 2000

[13] "Entertainment Bainbridge author of the year". BBC. 5 February 1999. Retrieved 26 August 2013.

[bbc2014-14] "Mary Berry wins outstanding achievement book award". BBC News. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]