Beevor knighted in New Year's Honours

Historian Antony Beevor has been knighted in the New Year's Honours list, and former Penguin UK m.d. Helen Fraser has been made a Dame. Beevor's honour was awarded "for services in support of Armed Forces Professional Development" while Fraser's is for services to Education, relating to her work as chief executive of the Girl's Day School Trust (GDST) following her publishing career.

Fraser, chief executive of GDST from 2010 to 2016, said: "I am surprised and delighted on a personal level, but even more delighted that this is a recognition of the work the GDST and other girls' schools do to make girls more confident and resilient, helping them not just in school but preparing them for their adult life."

Meanwhile Quartet publisher Naim Attallah, author and illustrator Shirley Hughes and philosopher A C Grayling all receive CBEs. Writer Aminatta Forna and Society of Chief Librarians past president Ciara Eastell have been awarded OBEs. Veteran library campaigner and former publisher Desmond Clarke receives an MBE for services to the British Public Library Service and to Literature. Poet and writer Fiona Sampson also receives an MBE.

Sampson, currently at work on a new biography of Mary Shelley for Little Toller to mark the bicentenary of Frankenstein, said: "I’m truly honoured, and especially grateful for this sign that literature remains of relevance to the wider community - something that I believe passionately. What an encouragement to keep on writing and working!"

The book trade honours come in a list that also includes knighthoods for entertainer Ken Dodd, actor Mark Rylance, tennis World Number One Andy Murray and Olympian Mo Farah, and Damehoods for actress Patricia Routledge and Olympians Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katherine Grainger.