Goldsmiths Prize


The Goldsmiths Prize is a British literary award, founded in 2013 by Goldsmiths, University of London, in association with the New Statesman. It is awarded annually to a British or Irish piece of fiction that "breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form." It is limited to citizens and residents of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and to novels published by presses based in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. The winner receives £10,000.
Tim Parnell of the Goldsmiths English department conceived and runs the prize, inspired by his research into Laurence Sterne and other eighteenth-century writers, like Denis Diderot, who experimented with the novel form. The prize "casts its net wider than most other prizes" and intends to celebrate "creative daring," but resists the phrase "experimental fiction," because it implies "an eccentric deviation from the novel’s natural concerns, structures and idioms."
To date, Rachel Cusk is the author best represented on the prize's shortlists, having been shortlisted four times for Outline, Transit, Kudos, and Parade. Nine authors have been shortlisted twice: Amy Arnold, Sara Baume, Will Eaves, Deborah Levy, Eimear McBride, Anakana Schofield, Ali Smith, Adam Thirwell, and Isabel Waidner.

Winners and shortlists

YearAuthorNovelPublisherNotes
2025 CD RoseWe Live Here NowMelville House PublishingThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 5 November.
2025Colwill BrownWe Pretty Pieces of FleshVintageThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 5 November.
2025Yrsa Daley-WardThe CatchPenguinThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 5 November.
2025Sarah HallHelmFaber & FaberThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 5 November.
2025Ben PesterThe Expansion ProjectGrantaThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 5 November.
2025Charlie PorterNova Scotia HouseParticularThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 5 November.
2024 Rachel CuskParadeFaber & FaberThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 6 November.
2024Mark BowlesAll My Precious MadnessGalley BeggarThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 6 November.
2024Jonathan BuckleyTellFitzcaraldoThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 6 November.
2024Neel MukherjeeChoiceAtlanticThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 6 November.
2024Lara PawsonSpent LightCB EditionsThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 6 November.
2024Han SmithPortraits at the Palace of Creativity and WreckingJohn MurrayThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, with the winner announced on 6 November.
2023 Benjamin MyersCuddyBloomsburyThe shortlist was announced on 4 October, with the winner announced on 8 November.
2023Amy ArnoldLori & JoePrototypeThe shortlist was announced on 4 October, with the winner announced on 8 November.
2023Kate BriggsThe Long FormFitzcarraldo EditionsThe shortlist was announced on 4 October, with the winner announced on 8 November.
2023H. Gareth GavinNever WasCipher PressThe shortlist was announced on 4 October, with the winner announced on 8 November.
2023Richard MilwardMan-Eating TypewriterWhite RabbitThe shortlist was announced on 4 October, with the winner announced on 8 November.
2023Adam ThirlwellThe Future FutureCapeThe shortlist was announced on 4 October, with the winner announced on 8 November.
2022 Natasha Soobramanien and Luke WilliamsDiego GarciaFitzcarraldo EditionsThe shortlist was announced on 5 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2022Mona ArshiSomebody Loves YouAnd Other StoriesThe shortlist was announced on 5 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2022Sara BaumeSeven SteeplesTramp PressThe shortlist was announced on 5 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2022Maddie MortimerMaps of Our Spectacular BodiesPicadorThe shortlist was announced on 5 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2022Helen OyeyemiPeacesFaber & FaberThe shortlist was announced on 5 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2022Yara Rodrigues Fowlerthere are more thingsFleetThe shortlist was announced on 5 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2021 Isabel WaidnerSterling Karat GoldPeninsula PressThe shortlist was announced on 6 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2021Claire-Louise BennettCheckout 19Jonathan CapeThe shortlist was announced on 6 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2021Natasha BrownAssemblyHamish HamiltonThe shortlist was announced on 6 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2021Keith RidgwayA ShockNew DirectionsThe shortlist was announced on 6 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2021Leone RossThis One Sky DayFaber and FaberThe shortlist was announced on 6 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2021Rebecca Watsonlittle scratchFaber and FaberThe shortlist was announced on 6 October, and the winner on 10 November.
2020 M. John HarrisonThe Sunken Land Begins to Rise AgainGollanczThe shortlist was announced on 14 October, and the winner on 11 November.
2020Paul GriffithsMr BeethovenHenningham Family PressThe shortlist was announced on 14 October, and the winner on 11 November.
2020Xiaolu GuoA Lover's DiscourseChatto & WindusThe shortlist was announced on 14 October, and the winner on 11 November.
2020DBC PierreMeanwhile in Dopamine CityFaberThe shortlist was announced on 14 October, and the winner on 11 November.
2020Monique RoffeyThe Mermaid of Black ConchPeepal Tree PressThe shortlist was announced on 14 October, and the winner on 11 November.
2020Anakana SchofieldBinaFleetThe shortlist was announced on 14 October, and the winner on 11 November.
2019 Lucy EllmannDucks, NewburyportGalley Beggar PressThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2019Isabel WaidnerWe Are Made of Diamond StuffDostoyevsky WannabeThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2019Vesna MainGood Day?SaltThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2019Amy ArnoldSlip of a FishAnd Other StoriesThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2019Mark HaddonThe PorpoiseChatto & WindusThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2019Deborah LevyThe Man Who Saw EverythingHamish HamiltonThe shortlist was announced on 2 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2018 Robin RobertsonThe Long TakePicadorThe shortlist was announced on 26 September, and the winner on 14 November.
2018Rachel CuskKudosFaberThe shortlist was announced on 26 September, and the winner on 14 November.
2018Will EavesMurmurCB EditionsThe shortlist was announced on 26 September, and the winner on 14 November.
2018Guy GunaratneIn Our Mad and Furious CityHeadlineThe shortlist was announced on 26 September, and the winner on 14 November.
2018Gabriel JosipoviciThe Cemetery in BarnesCarcanetThe shortlist was announced on 26 September, and the winner on 14 November.
2018Olivia LaingCrudoPicadorThe shortlist was announced on 26 September, and the winner on 14 November.
2017 Nicola BarkerHPPYWilliam HeinemannThe shortlist was announced on 27 September, and the winner on 15 November 2017.
2017Sara BaumeA Line Made by WalkingWilliam HeinemannThe shortlist was announced on 27 September, and the winner on 15 November 2017.
2017Kevin DaveyPlaying PossumAaargh! PressThe shortlist was announced on 27 September, and the winner on 15 November 2017.
2017Jon McGregorReservoir 13Fourth EstateThe shortlist was announced on 27 September, and the winner on 15 November 2017.
2017Gwendoline RileyFirst LoveGrantaThe shortlist was announced on 27 September, and the winner on 15 November 2017.
2017Will SelfPhoneVikingThe shortlist was announced on 27 September, and the winner on 15 November 2017.
2016 Mike McCormackSolar BonesTramp PressThe shortlist was announced on 28 September, and the winner on 9 November.
2016Deborah LevyHot MilkHamish HamiltonThe shortlist was announced on 28 September, and the winner on 9 November.
2016Sarah Ladipo ManyikaLike a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the SunCassava Republic PressThe shortlist was announced on 28 September, and the winner on 9 November.
2016Anakana SchofieldMartin JohnAnd Other StoriesThe shortlist was announced on 28 September, and the winner on 9 November.
2016Eimear McBrideThe Lesser BohemiansFaber and FaberThe shortlist was announced on 28 September, and the winner on 9 November.
2016Rachel CuskTransitJonathan CapeThe shortlist was announced on 28 September, and the winner on 9 November.
2015 Kevin BarryBeatleboneCanongateThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 11 November. All the authors on the shortlist were men.
2015Richard BeardActs of the AssassinsVintageThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 11 November. All the authors on the shortlist were men.
2015Magnus MillsThe Field of the Cloth of GoldBloomsbury PublishingThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 11 November. All the authors on the shortlist were men.
2015Tom McCarthySatin IslandJonathan CapeThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 11 November. All the authors on the shortlist were men.
2015Max PorterGrief Is the Thing with FeathersFaber and FaberThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 11 November. All the authors on the shortlist were men.
2015Adam ThirlwellLurid & CuteJonathan CapeThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 11 November. All the authors on the shortlist were men.
2014 Ali SmithHow to Be BothPenguinThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2014Rachel CuskOutlineVintageThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2014Will EavesThe Absent TherapistCB EditionsThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2014Howard JacobsonJJonathan CapeThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2014Paul KingsnorthThe WakeUnbound PublishingThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2014Zia Haider RahmanIn the Light of What We KnowPicadorThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2013 Eimear McBrideA Girl Is a Half-formed ThingGalley Beggar PressThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2013Philip TerrytapestryReality StreetThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2013Jim CraceHarvestPicadorThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2013Lars IyerExodusMelville HouseThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2013David PeaceRed or DeadFaber and FaberThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.
2013Ali SmithArtfulPenguin BooksThe shortlist was announced on 1 October, and the winner on 13 November.