The Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in partnership with Australia’s leading essential building and infrastructure services provider ARA Group, have announced the Shortlists for the 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize.

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is a literary prize that recognises the best Australian and New Zealand works of historical fiction.

The prize in 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.

Chair and Program Director of the Historical Novel Society Australasia, Elisabeth Storrs, said, ‘Selected from over 130 entries, the 2022 ARA Historical Novel Prize Shortlist demonstrates the true depth of talent of historical fiction authors.’

‘From tales set in 1950s New York and 1930s Norway, through to Australia during World War I, and even secret Nazi headquarters in an East Prussian forest during World War II, our 2022 Shortlists explore a breadth of realms in historical fiction.’

The Winners will be announced on Thursday 20 October 2022. For more information visit their website here.

Check out the Shortlists below:

Adult Category:
Horse by Geraldine Brooks (Hachette Australia)
Corporal Hitler’s Pistol by Tom Keneally (Penguin Random House)
Cold Coast by Robyn Mundy (Ultimo Press)

Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category:
Katipo Joe: Wolf’s Lair by Brian Falkner (Scholastic New Zealand)
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad (HarperCollins Publishers Australia)
The Wearing of the Green by Claire Saxby (Walker Books)