Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in partnership with the ARA Group, have announced the winners of the 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize for the Adult and Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category.

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is a literary prize that recognises the best Australian and New Zealand works of historical fiction. The 2022 winner in the Adult Category is Corporal Hitler’s Pistol by Tom Keneally (Penguin Random House) and the winner in the Young Adult (CYA) Category is Rabbit, Soldier, Angel Thief by Katrina Nannestad (HarperCollins Australia).

Chair and Program Director of the Historical Novel Society Australasia, Elisabeth Storrs, said, ‘Selected from over 130 entries, the 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize winners demonstrates the true depth of talent of historical fiction authors. The winning novels demonstrate the irresistible prose, unforgettable characters, meticulous research, and epic storytelling for which historical fiction is known.’

‘Both Corporal Hitler’s Pistol and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief demonstrate the power of the historical fiction genre to illuminate unspoken truths and connect the past with the present. This fosters an understanding of the complicated nature of the world today, and humanises the lives of our predecessors. The Prize is a true celebration of historical fiction, and a real opportunity to foster the genre on a grander scale,’ said Storrs.

The prize is worth a total of $100 000 with $50 000 awarded to the Adult category winner and $5 000 awarded to each of the remaining two shortlisted authors. The winner of the Children and Young Adult (CYA) category will receive $30 000, while the two shortlisted authors will receive $5 000 each.

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