British Book Awards
The British Book Awards or Nibbies are literary awards for the best UK writers and their works, administered by The Bookseller. The awards have had several previous names, owners and sponsors since being launched in 1990, including the National Book Awards from 2010 to 2014.
Book award history
The British Book Awards, or Nibbies, ran from 1990 to 2009 and were founded by the editor of Publishing News. The awards were then acquired by Agile Marketing, which renamed them the National Book Awards and called them the Galaxy National Book Awards and later the Specsavers National Book Awards after their headline sponsors. There were no National Book Awards after 2014; in 2017 the awards were acquired by The Bookseller from the estate of Publishing News founder, Fred Newman, and renamed back to the British Book Awards or Nibbies.In 2018, a Specsavers National Book Awards ceremony was held on 20 November but was unrelated to the Nibbies.
In 2005, The Bookseller launched a separate scheme, The Bookseller Retail Awards. In 2010, running parallel to the National Book Awards, The Bookseller unified The Nibbies with its retail awards to produce The Bookseller Industry Awards.
The awards are known as the Nibbies because of the golden nib-shaped trophy given to winners.
Name history
- 1990–2009: British Book Awards
- 2010–2011: Galaxy National Book Awards
- 2012–2014: Specsavers National Book Awards
- 2015–2016: no awards
- 2017–Pres: British Book Awards
Award winners (recent)
2025 Books of the Year
received the Freedom to Publish Award at the 35th British Book Awards on May 12, 2025, in London. In her videotaped acceptance comments, the Canadian author reflected on current threats to free expression, noting she couldn't remember a time "when words themselves felt under such threat" due to increasing political polarization, and urged publishers and booksellers to have courage in defending free expression.| Overall Book of the Year | Author of the Year | Illustrator of the year |
| Fiction Book of the Year | Debut Book of the Year | Crime and Thriller Book of the Year |
| Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | Non-fiction: Lifestyle and Illustrated | Page-turner of the Year |
| Children's Fiction Book of the Year | Children's Non-fiction Book of the Year | Children's Illustrated Book of the Year |
| Discover Book of the Year | Non-fiction Audiobook of the Year | Fiction Audiobook of the Year |
2024 Books of the Year
The shortlisted nominees were announced on 8 March 2024. Once again the in-person ceremony was livestreamed. Katherine Rundell was named Author of the Year, the first time that a children's writer received the accolade since Philip Pullman in 2018. In the run up to the awards ceremony, a daily podcast featuring nominated authors was made available online.| Overall Book of the Year | Author of the Year | Illustrator of the year |
| ||
| Fiction Book of the Year | Debut Book of the Year | Crime and Thriller Book of the Year |
| Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | Non-fiction: Lifestyle and Illustrated | Page-turner of the Year |
| Children's Fiction Book of the Year | Children's Non-fiction Book of the Year | Children's Illustrated Book of the Year |
| Discover Book of the Year | Non-fiction Audiobook of the Year | Fiction Audiobook of the Year |
2023 Books of the Year
The shortlisted nominees were announced on 17 March 2023. Once again the in-person ceremony was livestreamed. In 2023 the Non-fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year category was expanded to include Illustrated books.Salman Rushdie was recognised with a special Freedom to Publish honour. It is only the second time that the British Book Awards regime has conferred this prize, previously being awarded in 2022 to HarperCollins UK and its publishing director Arabella Pike "in recognition of their defense of authors against interference from Russian oligarchs, and for their 'robust defense of investigative non-fiction and publishing in the public interest."
| Overall Book of the Year | Author of the Year | Illustrator of the year |
| ||
| Fiction Book of the Year | Debut Book of the Year | Crime and Thriller Book of the Year |
| Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | Non-fiction: Lifestyle and Illustrated | Page-turner of the Year |
| Children's Fiction Book of the Year | Children's Non-fiction Book of the Year | Children's Illustrated Book of the Year |
| Discover Book of the Year | Non-fiction Audiobook of the Year | Fiction Audiobook of the Year |
2022 Books of the Year
The shortlisted nominees were announced on 25 March 2022. This year marked the return to the first live awards ceremony since 2019 but was also broadcast as a livestream.A new category of Discover Book of the Year was introduced aiming to showcase traditionally underrepresented authors with a particular focus on the work of indie presses and imprints. Alongside this, also new for 2022, was a split of the Children's Awards into non-fiction and illustrated, in addition to the fiction award, and a split of the Audiobook of the Year award into Fiction audiobook of the Year and Non-fiction audiobook of the Year.
| Overall Book of the Year | Author of the Year | Illustrator of the year |
| ||
| Fiction Book of the Year | Debut Book of the Year | Crime and Thriller Book of the Year |
| Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | Non-fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year | Page-turner of the Year |
| Children's Fiction Book of the Year | Children's Non-fiction Book of the Year | Children's Illustrated Book of the Year |
| Discover Book of the Year | Non-fiction Audiobook of the Year | Fiction Audiobook of the Year |
2021 Books of the Year
The shortlisted nominees were announced on 19 March 2021. Once again the ceremony was held online due to the continuing restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. It took place on 13 May 2021 at the Battersea Arts Centre, London.This year saw the addition of a new award category: Page-turner of the Year.
| Overall Book of the Year | Author of the Year | Illustrator of the year |
| Fiction Book of the Year | Debut Book of the Year | Crime and Thriller Book of the Year |
| Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | Non-fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year | Page-turner of the Year |
| Children's Fiction Book of the Year | Children's Illustrated and Non-fiction | Audiobook of the Year |
2020 Books of the Year
The shortlisted nominees were announced on 20 March 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the live event due to be held on 18 May 2020 was cancelled and the ceremony was held online over a month later in June 2020. This year's ceremony was named Event of the Year at the 2020 Independent Publisher Awards.In celebration of the Nibbies' 30th anniversary, 2020 saw a special award called "30 from 30" to celebrate the best of the best, where a longlist of 30 previous winners was narrowed down by a public poll to a shortlist of 10 nominees, plus a wildcard entry, that had not taken home a trophy in the past.
2020 was a notable year for the Nibbies in that except for illustrator Axel Scheffler, who won with his longtime co-creator Julia Donaldson, the programme's entire slate of authorial honours went to women and the Book of the Year and Author of the Year categories had their first ever black winners.
| Overall Book of the Year | Author of the Year | Illustrator of the year |
| Fiction Book of the Year | Debut Book of the Year | Crime and Thriller Book of the Year |
| Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | Non-fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year | Children's Fiction Book of the Year |
| Children's Illustrated and Non-fiction | Audiobook of the Year | 30 from 30 Special Award |
2019 Books of the Year
The shortlisted nominees were announced on 22 March 2019. The awards were now simplified into just two divisions, Books of the Year and The Trade Awards.2019 saw the Children's Book of the Year category split into two categories: Children's Fiction Book of the Year and Children's Illustrated and Non-fiction Book of the Year. This year also saw Becoming, the memoir by former first lady Michelle Obama winning two awards.
| Overall Book of the Year | Author of the Year | Illustrator of the year |
| Fiction Book of the Year | Debut Book of the Year | Crime and Thriller Book of the Year |
| Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | Non-fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year | Children's Fiction Book of the Year |
| Children's Illustrated and Non-fiction | Audiobook of the Year | |
2018 Books of the Year
The shortlisted nominees were announced on 16 March 2018. Again the awards comprised four divisions: Books of the Year, Great People, Bringing Books to Readers and Publishing Success.New categories of Author of the Year, Illustrator of the Year were added this year. Audiobook of the Year and an award for Overall Book of the Year from all the category winners were also reintroduced after being omitted in 2017. This year also saw a joint winner for the Children's Book of the Year category.
| Overall Book of the Year | Author of the Year | Illustrator of the year |
| Fiction Book of the Year | Debut Book of the Year | Crime and Thriller Book of the Year |
| Non-fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | Non-fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year | Children's Book of the Year |
| Audiobook of the Year | ||
2017 Books of the Year
The shortlisted nominees were announced on 15 March 2017 at the London Book Fair. The awards comprised four divisions: Books of the Year, Great People, Bringing Books to Readers and Publishing Success. For the first Nibbies since 2014, the ceremony was expanded, Crime and Thriller titles regained their own category, while non-fiction was split into Narrative and Lifestyle. The Newcomer of the Year / New Writer of the Year award was renamed Debut Book of the Year and The Popular Fiction award which had changed to Popular Fiction Book of the Year in 2010 was renamed simply as Fiction Book of the Year in this year.1990–2016
Book of the Year
Prior to 2010 the Best was a unique winner. Starting in 2010, the Best was chosen by the public via open internet vote from among the winning books in the other categories. The category was resurrected in 2018.Children's Book of the Year
Previously called British Children's Book of the Year. Renamed to Children's Book of the Year in 2010.Fiction Book of the Year
Previously called Popular Fiction Award. Name changed to Popular Fiction Book of the Year in 2010 and subsequently to Fiction Book of the Year in 2017.- 2016 – '
- 2015 – '
- 2014 – The Shock of the Fall – Nathan Filer
- 2013 – An Officer and a Spy – Robert Harris
- 2012 – Fifty Shades of Grey – E. L. James
- 2011 – A Tiny Bit Marvellous – Dawn French
- 2010 – One Day – David Nicholls
- 2009 – Devil May Care – Sebastian Faulks
- 2008 – The Memory Keeper's Daughter – Kim Edwards
- 2006 – Anybody Out There? – Marian Keyes
- 2006 – The Time Traveler's Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Début Book of the Year
- 2016 – '
- 2015 – '
- 2014 – The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
- 2013 – Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussman
- 2012 – The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
- 2011 – When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman
- 2010 – The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
- 2009 – Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
- 2008 – Catherine O'Flynn –
- 2007 – Victoria Hislop –
- 2006 – Marina Lewycka –
- 2005 – Susanna Clarke –
- 2004 – Brick Lane by Monica Ali
- 2003 – Allison Pearson
- 2002 – Pete McCarthy
- 2001 – White Teeth by Zadie Smith
- 2000 – Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia by Chris Stewart
- 1999 – Borders –
- 1998 – Daisy & Tom –
- 1997 – Kate Atkinson –
- 1990 – The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
Crime & Thriller Book of the Year
- 2016 – '
- 2015 – '
- 2014 – I Am Pilgrim – Terry Hayes
- 2013 – The Carrier – Sophie Hannah
- 2012 – A Wanted Man – Lee Child
- 2011 – Before I Go to Sleep – S. J. Watson
- 2010 –
- 2009 – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson
- 2008 – Book of the Dead – Patricia Cornwell
- 2007 – The Naming of the Dead – Ian Rankin
- 2006 – The Take – Martina Cole
- 2005 – Fleshmarket Close – Ian Rankin
Illustrated Children's Book of the Year
- 1995 – The Most Amazing Pop-Up Science Book – Jay Young
- 1994 – Mummy Laid an Egg – Babette Cole
- 1993 – Penguin Small – Mick Inkpen
- 1992 – Farmer Duck – Helen Oxenbury
- 1991 – The Mousehole Cat – Nicola Bayley
Retired awards
Audiobook of the Year
- 2014 – Awful Auntie – David Walliams
- 2013 – The Ocean at the End of the Lane – written and narrated by Neil Gaiman
- 2012 – The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year – Sue Townsend, narrated by Caroline Quentin
- 2011 – My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You – Louisa Young, narrated by Dan Stevens
- 2005–2010 –
- 2004 – Forgotten Voices of the Great War – Max Arthur
- 2003 – A Series of Unfortunate Events – written by Lemony Snicket, narrated by Tim Curry
- 2002 – The Laying on of Hands – written and narrated by Alan Bennett
Bestseller Award
- 2017 – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – J. K. Rowling
- 1992–2016 –
- 1991 – Delia Smith's Christmas – Delia Smith
Biography/Autobiography of the Year
- 2014 – Please, Mister Postman – Alan Johnson
- 2013 – David Jason: My Life – David Jason
- 2012 – My Animals and Other Family – Clare Balding
- 2011 – Charles Dickens – Claire Tomalin
- 2010 – The Fry Chronicles – Stephen Fry
- 2009 – Dreams from My Father – Barack Obama
- 2008 – My Booky Wook – Russell Brand
- 2007 – The Sound of Laughter – Peter Kay
- 2006 – Sharon Osbourne Extreme – Sharon Osbourne
- 2005 – My Life – Bill Clinton
- 2004 – Toast – Nigel Slater
- 2003 – Churchill: A Biography – Roy Jenkins
Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year
- 2014 – Love, Nina – Nina Stibbe
- 2013 – I Am Malala – Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
- 2012 – Is It Just Me – Miranda Hart
- 2011 – How To Be a Woman – Caitlin Moran
- 2010 – The Making of Modern Britain – Andrew Marr
Food & Drink Book of the Year
- 2014 – Plenty More – Yotam Ottolenghi
- 2013 – Eat – Nigel Slater
- 2012 – The Hairy Dieters – Si King and Dave Myers
- 2011 – The Good Cook – Simon Hopkinson
- 2010 – Plenty – Yotam Ottolenghi
Paperback of the Year
- 2011 – Room – Emma Donoghue
Outstanding Achievement
- 2014 – Mary Berry
- 2013 – '
- 2012 – Ian Rankin
- 2011 – Jackie Collins
- 2010 – Martin Amis and Terry Pratchett
- 2009 – '
- 2008 – J. K. Rowling
- 2007 – John Grisham
- 2006 – Jamie Oliver
- 2005 – Sir John Mortimer
- 2004 – Sir David Attenborough
- 2003 – Alan Bennett
- 2002 – Mark Barty-King
- 2001 – Ernest Hecht
- 2000 – Spike Milligan
- 1999 – Maeve Binchy
- 1998 – Jilly Cooper
- 1997 – Paul Scherer
- 1996 – Wilbur Smith
- 1995 – Delia Smith
- 1994 – Catherine Cookson
- 1993 – Dr. D. G. Hessayon
UK Author of the Year
- 2014 – David Nicholls – Us
- 2013 – Kate Atkinson – Life After Life
- 2012 – Hilary Mantel – Bring Up the Bodies
- 2011 – Alan Hollinghurst – The Stranger's Child
- 2010 – Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall
- 2009 – Aravind Adiga
- 2008 – Ian McEwan
- 2007 – Richard Dawkins
- 2006 – Alan Bennett
- 2005 – Sheila Hancock
- 2004 – Alexander McCall Smith
- 2003 – Sarah Waters
- 2002 – Philip Pullman
- 2001 – Nigella Lawson
- 2000 – J. K. Rowling
- 1999 – Beryl Bainbridge
- 1998 – Louis de Bernières
- 1997 – Bill Bryson
- 1996 – Salman Rushdie
- 1995 – Sebastian Faulks
- 1994 – Roddy Doyle
- 1993 – Andrew Morton
- 1992 – Peter Mayle
- 1991 – Peter Ackroyd
- 1990 – Prince of Wales
International Author of the Year
- 2014 – We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves – Karen Joy Fowler
- 2013 – Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
- 2012 – The Snow Child – Eowyn Ivey
- 2011 – A Visit from the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan
- 2010 – Freedom – Jonathan Franzen
Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year
- 2009 – When Will There Be Good News? – Kate Atkinson
- 2008 – A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini
- 2007 – The Interpretation of Murder – Jed Rubenfeld
- 2006 – Labyrinth – Kate Mosse
- 2005 – Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
- 2004 – The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
The Children's Author of the Year
- 1995 – Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg
- 1994 – Anne Fine
- 1993 – Raymond Briggs
- 1992 – Dick King-Smith
- 1991 – Anne Fine
- 1990 – Roald Dahl
Illustrated Book of the Year
- 2004 – England's Thousand Best Houses – Simon Jenkins
- 2003 – Sahara – Michael Palin
- 2002 – The Blue Planet – Andrew Byatt, Alastair Fothergill, Martha Holmes
- 2001 – The Beatles Anthology
- 2000 – Century – Bruce Bernard
- 1999 – Ethel & Ernest – Raymond Briggs
- 1998 – The Lost Gardens of Heligan – Tim Smit
- 1997 – Flora Britannica – Richard Mabey
- 1996 – The River Cafe Cookbook – Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers
- 1995 – ''The Art Book''
The TV and Film Book of the Year
- 2007 – The Devil Wears Prada – Lauren Weisberger
- 2006 – The Constant Gardener – John le Carré
- 2005 – Himalaya – Michael Palin
- 2004 – How Clean Is Your House? – Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie
- 2003 – What Not to Wear – Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine
The Literary Fiction Award
- 2005 – Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
- 2004 – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark Haddon
The History Book of the Year
- 2005 – William Pitt the Younger: A Biography – William Hague
- 2004 – Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar – Simon Sebag Montefiore
The Sports Book of the Year
- 2007 – Gerrard: My Autobiography – Steven Gerrard
- 2006 – Being Freddie – Andrew Flintoff
- 2005 – Gazza: My Story – Paul Gascoigne
- 2004 – Martin Johnson: The Autobiography – Martin Johnson
The deciBel Writer of the Year
- 2007 – Jackie Kay
- 2006 – Diana Evans
- 2005 – Hari Kunzru
The Fastest Selling Biography of All Time
- 2004 – My Side – David Beckham
The Travel Writer of the Year
- 1993 – Michael Palin – Pole to Pole
- 1992 – Mark Shand – Travels on My Elephant
- 1991 – V. S. Naipaul – India
- 1990 – Peter Mayle – ''A Year in Provence''
The Fantasy and Science Fiction Author of the Year
- 1994 – Terry Pratchett