Orwell Prize for Political Writing

1. 2026
   The Escape from Kabul Karen Bartlett

   Winner

   The Escape from Kabul

   Karen Bartlett

   Also on the shortlist

   • For the Sun After Long Nights Fatemeh Jamalpour

     
     For the Sun After Long Nights by Fatemeh Jamalpour and Nilo Tabrizy
   • Israel Omer Bartov

     
     Israel by Omer Bartov
   • Shattered Lands Sam Dalrymple

     
     Shattered Lands by Sam Dalrymple
   • The Elements of Power Nicolas Niarchos

     
     The Elements of Power by Nicolas Niarchos
   • The Wall Dancers Yi-Ling Liu

     
     The Wall Dancers by Yi-Ling Liu
   • Stalin’s Apostles Antonia Senior
     Stalin’s Apostles by Antonia Senior
   • Three Years on Fire Andrey Kurkov
     Three Years on Fire by Andrey Kurkov

   All 8 books from 2026

2. 2025
   Looking at Women, Looking at War Victoria Amelina

   

   Winner

   Looking at Women, Looking at War

   Victoria Amelina

   Also on the shortlist

   • At the Edge of Empire Edward Wong

     
     At the Edge of Empire by Edward Wong
   • Autocracy, Inc Anne Applebaum

     
     Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum
   • Broken Threads Mishal Husain

     
     Broken Threads by Mishal Husain
   • The Baton and the Cross Lucy Ash

     
     The Baton and the Cross by Lucy Ash
   • The Coming Storm Gabriel Gatehouse

     
     The Coming Storm by Gabriel Gatehouse
   • The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad Simon Parkin

     
     The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad by Simon Parkin
   • The World of the Cold War Vladislav Zubok

     
     The World of the Cold War by Vladislav Zubok

   All 8 books from 2025

3. 2024
   The Picnic Matthew Longo

   

   Winner

   The Picnic

   Matthew Longo

   Also on the shortlist

   • A Day in the Life of Abed Salama Nathan Thrall

     
     A Day in the Life of Abed Salama by Nathan Thrall
   • Eve Cat Bohannon

     
     Eve by Cat Bohannon
   • Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad Daniel Finkelstein

     
     Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad by Daniel Finkelstein
   • Our Enemies Will Vanish Yaroslav Trofimov

     
     Our Enemies Will Vanish by Yaroslav Trofimov
   • Revolutionary Acts Jason Okundaye

     
     Revolutionary Acts by Jason Okundaye
   • The Achilles Trap Steve Coll

     
     The Achilles Trap by Steve Coll
   • The Incarcerations Alpa Shah

     
     The Incarcerations by Alpa Shah
   • We Are Free to Change the World Lyndsey Stonebridge
     We Are Free to Change the World by Lyndsey Stonebridge

   All 9 books from 2024

4. 2023
   Show Me the Bodies Peter Apps

   

   Winner

   Show Me the Bodies

   Peter Apps

   Also on the shortlist

   • Divided Annabel Sowemimo

     
     Divided by Annabel Sowemimo
   • Inside Qatar John McManus

     
     Inside Qatar by John McManus
   • Invasion Luke Harding

     
     Invasion by Luke Harding
   • The Last Colony Philippe Sands

     
     The Last Colony by Philippe Sands
   • The Patriarchs Angela Saini

     
     The Patriarchs by Angela Saini
   • Time to Think Hannah Barnes

     
     Time to Think by Hannah Barnes
   • Who Cares? Emily Kenway

     
     Who Cares? by Emily Kenway
   • Fire of the Dragon Ian Williams
     Fire of the Dragon by Ian Williams

   All 9 books from 2023

5. 2022
   My Fourth Time, We Drowned Sally Hayden

   

   Winner

   My Fourth Time, We Drowned

   Sally Hayden

   Also on the shortlist

   • Do Not Disturb Michela Wrong

     
     Do Not Disturb by Michela Wrong
   • Orwell’s Roses Rebecca Solnit

     
     Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit
   • Shutdown Adam Tooze

     
     Shutdown by Adam Tooze
   • The Dawn of Everything David Graeber

     
     The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow
   • The Right to Sex Amia Srinivasan

     
     The Right to Sex by Amia Srinivasan
   • Uncommon Wealth Kojo Koram

     
     Uncommon Wealth by Kojo Koram
   • Behind Closed Doors Polly Curtis
     Behind Closed Doors by Polly Curtis
   • Spike Jeremy Farrar
     Spike by Jeremy Farrar and Anjana Ahuja

   All 9 books from 2022

6. 2021
   Between Two Fires Joshua Yaffa

   

   Winner

   Between Two Fires

   Joshua Yaffa

   Also on the shortlist

   • African Europeans Olivette Otele

     
     African Europeans by Olivette Otele
   • Eat the Buddha Barbara Demick

     
     Eat the Buddha by Barbara Demick
   • English Pastoral James Rebanks

     
     English Pastoral by James Rebanks
   • Our Bodies, Their Battlefield Christina Lamb

     
     Our Bodies, Their Battlefield by Christina Lamb
   • The Interest Michael Taylor

     
     The Interest by Michael Taylor
   • Labours of Love Madeleine Bunting
     Labours of Love by Madeleine Bunting

   All 7 books from 2021

7. 2020
   Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me Kate Clanchy

   

   Winner

   Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me

   Kate Clanchy

   Also on the shortlist

   • Appeasing Hitler Tim Bouverie

     
     Appeasing Hitler by Tim Bouverie
   • Invisible Women Caroline Criado Perez

     
     Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
   • The Age of Surveillance Capitalism Shoshana Zuboff

     
     The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff
   • The Windrush Betrayal Amelia Gentleman

     
     The Windrush Betrayal by Amelia Gentleman
   • Underland Robert Macfarlane

     
     Underland by Robert Macfarlane
   • Margaret Thatcher—Herself Alone Charles Moore
     Margaret Thatcher—Herself Alone by Charles Moore

   All 7 books from 2020

8. 2019
   Say Nothing Patrick Radden Keefe

   

   Winner

   Say Nothing

   Patrick Radden Keefe

   Also on the shortlist

   • Heimat Nora Krug

     
     Heimat by Nora Krug
   • Moneyland Oliver Bullough

     
     Moneyland by Oliver Bullough
   • Nightmarch Alpa Shah

     
     Nightmarch by Alpa Shah
   • The Growth Delusion David Pilling

     
     The Growth Delusion by David Pilling
   • The Line Becomes a River Francisco Cantú

     
     The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantú

   All 6 books from 2019

9. 2018
   Poverty Safari Darren McGarvey

   

   Winner

   Poverty Safari

   Darren McGarvey

   Also on the shortlist

   • Lovers and Strangers Clair Wills

     
     Lovers and Strangers by Clair Wills
   • Testosterone Rex Cordelia Fine

     
     Testosterone Rex by Cordelia Fine
   • The Islamic Enlightenment Christopher de Bellaigue

     
     The Islamic Enlightenment by Christopher de Bellaigue
   • What You Did Not Tell Mark Mazower

     
     What You Did Not Tell by Mark Mazower
   • Winter Ali Smith

     
     Winter by Ali Smith

   All 6 books from 2018

10. 2017
    Citizen Clem John Bew

    

    Winner

    Citizen Clem

    John Bew

    Also on the shortlist

    • All Out War Tim Shipman

      
      All Out War by Tim Shipman
    • And the Sun Shines Now Adrian Tempany

      
      And the Sun Shines Now by Adrian Tempany
    • Another Day in the Death of America Gary Younge

      
      Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge
    • Island Story J. D. Taylor
      Island Story by J. D. Taylor
    • The Seven Ruth Dudley Edwards
      The Seven by Ruth Dudley Edwards

    All 6 books from 2017

11. 2016
    The Invention of Russia Arkady Ostrovsky

    

    Winner

    The Invention of Russia

    Arkady Ostrovsky

    Also on the shortlist

    • Circling the Square Wendell Steavenson

      
      Circling the Square by Wendell Steavenson
    • Other People’s Money John Kay

      
      Other People’s Money by John Kay
    • The Tears of the Rajas Ferdinand Mount

      
      The Tears of the Rajas by Ferdinand Mount
    • The New Threat from Islamic Militancy Jason Burke
      The New Threat from Islamic Militancy by Jason Burke
    • The Unravelling Emma Sky
      The Unravelling by Emma Sky

    All 6 books from 2016

12. 2015
    Private Island James Meek

    

    Winner

    Private Island

    James Meek

    Also on the shortlist

    • Capital Rana Dasgupta

      
      Capital by Rana Dasgupta
    • Hack Attack Nick Davies

      
      Hack Attack by Nick Davies
    • In Plain Sight Dan Davies

      
      In Plain Sight by Dan Davies
    • People’s Republic of Amnesia Louisa Lim

      
      People’s Republic of Amnesia by Louisa Lim
    • Modernity Britain David Kynaston
      Modernity Britain by David Kynaston

    All 6 books from 2015

13. 2014
    This Boy Alan Johnson

    

    Winner

    This Boy

    Alan Johnson

    Also on the shortlist

    • Coolie Woman Gaiutra Bahadur

      
      Coolie Woman by Gaiutra Bahadur
    • Margaret Thatcher Charles Moore

      
      Margaret Thatcher by Charles Moore
    • The British Dream David Goodhart

      
      The British Dream by David Goodhart
    • The Tragedy of Liberation Frank Dikötter

      
      The Tragedy of Liberation by Frank Dikötter
    • The World’s Most Dangerous Place James Fergusson
      The World’s Most Dangerous Place by James Fergusson

    All 6 books from 2014

14. 2013
    A Very British Killing A. T. Williams

    

    Winner

    A Very British Killing

    A. T. Williams

    Also on the shortlist

    • Burying the Typewriter Carmen Bugan

      
      Burying the Typewriter by Carmen Bugan
    • Injustice Clive Stafford Smith

      
      Injustice by Clive Stafford Smith
    • Occupation Diaries Raja Shehadeh

      
      Occupation Diaries by Raja Shehadeh
    • On the Front Line Marie Colvin

      
      On the Front Line by Marie Colvin
    • From the Ruins of the Empire Pankaj Mishra
      From the Ruins of the Empire by Pankaj Mishra
    • Leaving Alexandria Richard Holloway
      Leaving Alexandria by Richard Holloway

    All 7 books from 2013

15. 2012
    Dead Men Risen Toby Harnden

    

    Winner

    Dead Men Risen

    Toby Harnden

    Also on the shortlist

    • DarkMarket Misha Glenny

      
      DarkMarket by Misha Glenny
    • Hood Rat Gavin Knight

      
      Hood Rat by Gavin Knight
    • People Who Eat Darkness Richard Lloyd Parry

      
      People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry
    • The Beautiful and the Damned Siddhartha Deb

      
      The Beautiful and the Damned by Siddhartha Deb
    • The Opium War Julia Lovell

      
      The Opium War by Julia Lovell

    All 6 books from 2012

16. 2011
    The Rule of Law Tom Bingham

    Winner

    The Rule of Law

    Tom Bingham

    Also on the shortlist

    • Death to the Dictator! Afsaneh Moqadam

      
      Death to the Dictator! by Afsaneh Moqadam
    • Hitch-22 Christopher Hitchens

      
      Hitch-22 by Christopher Hitchens
    • Let Our Fame Be Great Oliver Bullough

      
      Let Our Fame Be Great by Oliver Bullough
    • Supermac D. R. Thorpe

      
      Supermac by D. R. Thorpe
    • The Betrayal Helen Dunmore

      
      The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore

    All 6 books from 2011

17. 2010
    Keeper Andrea Gillies

    Winner

    Keeper

    Andrea Gillies

    Also on the shortlist

    • An Elegy for Easterly Petina Gappah

      
      An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah
    • Freedom for Sale John Kampfner

      
      Freedom for Sale by John Kampfner
    • From Fatwa to Jihad Kenan Malik

      
      From Fatwa to Jihad by Kenan Malik
    • Rebel Land Christopher de Bellaigue

      
      Rebel Land by Christopher de Bellaigue
    • It’s Our Turn to Eat Michela Wrong
      It’s Our Turn to Eat by Michela Wrong

    All 6 books from 2010

18. 2009
    Fishing in Utopia Andrew Brown

    

    Fishing in Utopia

    Andrew Brown

    Also on the shortlist: Chinese Whispers; Reappraisals; Stalin’s Children; The White War; Descent into Chaos.

    All 6 books from 2009

19. 2008
    Palestinian Walks Raja Shehadeh

    

    Palestinian Walks

    Raja Shehadeh

    Also on the shortlist: Bad Men; The Islamist; Two Caravans; What’s Left?; Wild; William Wilberforce.

    All 7 books from 2008

20. 2007
    Having It So Good Peter Hennessy

    

    Having It So Good

    Peter Hennessy

    Also on the shortlist: Alexis de Tocqueville; Bad Faith; Lions, Donkeys and Dinosaurs; Occupational Hazards; Thatcher and Sons.

    All 6 books from 2007

21. 2006
    Moses, Citizen and Me Delia Jarrett-Macauley

    

    Moses, Citizen and Me

    Delia Jarrett-Macauley

    Also on the shortlist: Black Gold of the Sun; Frontline; I Didn’t Do It for You; The Secret of Bryn Estyn; Urban Grimshaw and the Shed Crew.

    All 6 books from 2006

22. 2005
    The Likes of Us Michael Collins

    

    The Likes of Us

    Michael Collins

    Also on the shortlist: Free World; Just Law; My Trade; Occidentalism; Wartime.

    All 6 books from 2005

23. 2004
    The Breaking of Nations Robert Cooper

    

    The Breaking of Nations

    Robert Cooper

    Also on the shortlist: Brick Lane; Margaret Thatcher; Rising ’44; Supping with the Devils.

    All 5 books from 2004

24. 2003
    Hoo-hahs and Passing Frenzies Francis Wheen

    

    Hoo-hahs and Passing Frenzies

    Francis Wheen

    Also on the shortlist: Chance Witness; London Orbital; Marianne in Chains; Patriots; Stone Voices.

    All 6 books from 2003

25. 2002
    Anthony Blunt Miranda Carter

    

    Anthony Blunt

    Miranda Carter

26. 2001
    Virtual War Michael Ignatieff

    

    Virtual War

    Michael Ignatieff

27. 2000
    The Case of Stephen Lawrence Brian Cathcart

    

    The Case of Stephen Lawrence

    Brian Cathcart

28. 1999
    Alexander Solzhenitsyn D. M. Thomas

    

    Alexander Solzhenitsyn

    D. M. Thomas

29. 1998
    Jennie Lee Patricia Hollis

    

    Jennie Lee

    Patricia Hollis

30. 1997
    Mukiwa Peter Godwin

    

    Mukiwa

    Peter Godwin

31. 1996
    Season of Blood Fergal Keane

    

    Season of Blood

    Fergal Keane

32. 1995
    In Search of a State Fionnuala O’Connor

    

    In Search of a State

    Fionnuala O’Connor

33. 1994
    The Baltic Revolution Anatol Lieven

    

    The Baltic Revolution

    Anatol Lieven

Earlier years list the winner only.