Historian Alice Loxton's Eighteen crowned Blackwell’s Book of the Year 2024

Blackwell’s has crowned Eighteen by historian Alice Loxton (Macmillan) Blackwell’s Book of the Year 2024.

Loxton’s book delves into Britain through 18 notable figures aged 18. "Seamlessly blending big history with engaging stories of royalty, explorers, writers and entertainers, Alice Loxton builds a rich mosaic of Britain’s past, inviting readers on a journey of discovery," the synopsis says.

"We are extremely proud to present Eighteen by Alice Loxton as our Blackwell’s Book of the Year for 2024," said Zool Verjee, Blackwell’s commercial manager. "In a year of exceptional and vibrant publishing, Eighteen stands out for the range of subjects covered, and for Alice Loxton’s lively and engaging writing style."

Matthew Land of Blackwell’s Edinburgh added: "Playful but authoritative history is a genre which Alice Loxton is speedily making her own. The premise of this book—the tale of 18 people though history and what their life was like at 18 years of age (and what that reveals to us about that historical period and setting)—is a unique lens through which to present a version of British history."