The richest individual literary prize in Australasia, the ARA Historical Novel Prize, has announced its longlist.
Open to novels where the majority of the narrative takes place at least 50 years ago, the Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), with the generous patronage of the ARA Group, has been running the prize since 2020 which includes both Adult and Children and Young Adult (CYA) categories. Previous Adult category winners include Melissa Lucashenko (2024) Gail Jones (2023), Tom Keneally (2022), with CYA winners Amelia Mellor (2023) and Beverley McWilliams (2024).
The HNSA Chair, Elisabeth Storrs says ‘This year’s longlists showcase the power of the historical fiction genre to reclaim lost narratives and re-imagine history with various themes including gender stereotypes, early feminism, heroism, ancestral connections and folklore. The stories span centuries and cultures from medieval Europe to the moon landing with stops along the way to C16th Lithuania and 1800s China, through to Victorian England, colonial Australia, C20th America and Central Australia, WW2 France, Hong Kong, and Stalin’s Russia.’
Angelo Loukakis, Chair of the adult judging panel says ‘History has indeed met imagination once again and the fruits are evident in the number of entries, the spread of settings and time periods, and the variety of accomplished prose styles. As much as they entertain, the best of such novels present us with valuable insights into how aspects of past experience have shaped today’s realities and continue to influence our futures.’
This year also sees the launch of a brand-new Readers’ Choice award for the adult category, with a $5,000 prize. Voting will open from 9am on 3 September here
The shortlists will be announced on 24 September and the winners on 16 October 2025, with a celebratory event in Sydney.
ADULT LONGLIST
· Dusk by Robbie Arnott
· Everything Lost, Everything Found by Matthew Hooton
· All the Bees in the Hollows by Lauren Keegan
· The First Friend by Malcolm Knox
· Rapture by Emily Maguire
When Sleeping Women Wake by Emma Pei Yin
· One Hundred Years of Betty by Debra Oswald
· I am Nannertgarrook by Tasma Walton
· The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang
CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT LONGLIST
· Moonboy by Anna Ciddor
· On Gallant Wings by Helen Edwards
· The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal
· Our History: Bold Ben Hall by Sophie Masson
· Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars by Catherine Norton
· The Midwatch by Judith Rossell
· R.I.P Nanny Tobbins by Lucie Stevens
· Desert Tracks by Marly & Linda Wells
Edward Federman, the Executive Chair and CEO of the ARA Group says, “I am proud to support The ARA Historical Novel Prize, which continues to celebrate excellence in writing in this increasingly popular genre. I congratulate all the talented authors longlisted for the 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize.”
Prize Details:
Adult: The overall prize winner receives $100,000 with an additional $5,000 to be awarded to each of the remaining two shortlisted authors.
Children and Young Adult (CYA): The overall prize winner receives $30,000 with an additional $5,000 to be awarded to each of the remaining two shortlisted authors.
Readers’ Choice Award: The winner will receive $5,000.
