Olivia Laing, Katherine Rundell and Kiran Millwood Hargrave shortlisted for 2024 Wainwright Prize

Female authors have dominated the Wainwright Prize shortlists, clinching 15 of the 21 spots with Katherine Rundell and Olivia Laing among those nominate, alongside the first graphic novel ever in contention. 

The £7,500 prize showcases writing that reflects its namesake Alfred Wainwright’s values of celebrating the environment across three strands: for writing on nature, for writing on conservation and for writing on nature and conservation for children. 

Fifteen of the 21 shortlisted entries for the award—previously known as the James Cropper Wainwright Prizes—come from female authors. Laing is shortlisted for nature writing with The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise (Picador) alongside the likes of Marchelle Farrell’s Uprooting: From the Caribbean to the Countryside—Finding Home in an English Garden (Canongate).

This year’s children’s category includes the very first graphic novel to be shortlisted for The Wainwright Prize—Global by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano (Hodder Children’s Books).  

Kiran Millwood Hargrave, winner of last year’s children’s category, and Nicola Davies, have made history by being shortlisted every year since the category was introduced—Millwood Hargrave for In The Shadow of the Wolf Queen from the Geomancer trilogy (Orion Children’s Books) with Davies recognised for Skrimsli, which is illustrated by Jackie Morris (Firefly Press). Multi-award winning author Rundell is also nominated in this category for Impossible Creatures (Bloomsbury Children’s). 

The judging panels for the three categories feature experts from nature charities, authors, activists, booksellers, and scientific researchers. 

Lee Schofield, judge for the nature writing prize, said: "This year’s Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing Shortlist is nothing less than extraordinary. The shortlisted authors bring uniquely diverse perspectives, exploring our relationship with the non-human world in genuinely breathtaking ways."  

Mark Funnell said of the conservation prize that "not only do they speak to some of the most pressing crises facing humanity today, but they also pack a real punch—white-knuckle page turners, deeply affecting testimonies, excoriating exposés".

Uju Asika added on the children’s category: "Each one of these shortlisted books stood out for its literary excellence, offering something unique in terms of writing voice, art style, unforgettable characters, danger, and humour."

The award is working in close partnership with designer and illustrator Emily Wainwright to develop bespoke illustrations that will be threaded throughout this year’s visual campaign, including all design assets and the trophies presented to the three winners.

The winners will be announced on 11th September at a ceremony at Camley Street Natural Park, near Kings Cross in London, where a £7,500 prize fund will be shared. The full shortlist of 21 authors can be viewed at wainwrightprize.com.