The longlist for the 2026 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction was announced last Thursday! Thanks to this prize, I have discovered lots of great books and authors and always look out for the longlists and shortlists; in fact, trying to read all of the shortlisted titles since the prize began in 2010 is a personal project of mine (you can see my progress here).
There are twelve books on this year’s longlist and here they are:
Venetian Vespers by John Banville
The Two Roberts by Damian Barr
Eden’s Shore by Oisín Fagan
Helm by Sarah Hall
The Pretender by Jo Harkin
Boundary Waters by Tristan Hughes
The Matchbox Girl by Alice Jolly
Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
Benbecula by Graeme Macrae Burnet
Once the Deed is Done by Rachel Seiffert
The Artist by Lucy Steeds
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood
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As you can see, I’ve only read two books from this year’s longlist, but I liked both, particularly Seascraper, and wasn’t surprised to see them on the list! I’m not planning to try to read all of these books, but I was already intending to read Benbecula and some of the others look appealing as well. I’ll be looking out for the shortlist announcement in April!
Have you read any of the longlisted books?
She Reads Novels 
I loved The Artist. A great story, engaging characters, and a very satisfying ending. Highly recommended, and I’m not the only one, it’s already won a couple of awards.
The Artist is one that caught my eye when I was investigating the titles on this list, so I’m pleased to hear you loved it so much. I’ll definitely try to read it.
The only one I’ve read is Seascraper which I loved. Keen to read The Artist as well
Seascraper is a great book – glad you loved it as well! I’m looking forward to reading The Artist.
Once the deed is done is an interesting title and The Artist does look great!
Yes, Once the Deed is Done is a great title, although I hadn’t heard of the book until now. I’m definitely planning to read The Artist!
I’ve read the two you’ve read plus six more. I didn’t get on with Eden’s Shore at all. I was completely confused at the end! I hope it doesn’t make the shortlist because I might have to force myself to read it again. I have The Artist in my TBR pile. I like the sound of all of the remaining three – Edenglassie, Boundary Waters and Once the Deed Is Done – none of which I’d come across before now. As you say, that’s the exciting thing about this prize.
Oh dear – I hope I get on better than you did with Eden’s Shore if I decide to read that one. I’ll probably wait and see if it gets shortlisted first.
I did like your reviews very much, Helen, so I’ll bear these two in mind as potential reads.
They are both beautifully written books – even without reading the rest of the longlist, I think they would both be deserving winners.
Despite getting super behind on new books this last year, I have actually read two of them, Edenglassie and Seascraper! I already reviewed Seascraper as part of Novellas in November, and my Edenglassie review is coming out soon. I have Benbecula in my pile, I think, and Helm and Venetian Whispers on my radar. It will be interesting to see if I’ve actually read some of the ones that make the shortlist before it comes out, as I don’t think that has ever happened before.
Well, if Edenglassie and Seascraper are on the shortlist, then you’ll have already read two! I also have Benbecula in my pile and would like to read Helm.
I thought that The Pretender was rubbish, but maybe it was just me!
That book caught my eye when it was published last year as I love that period of history, but after seeing some reviews, including yours, I completely went off the idea of reading it!
You haven’t missed anything!
I have not read Historical Fiction and especially any of the Walter Scott Prize lately. But this year’s list is interesting and may be a good place to get back to this genre again!
Yes, there are lots of interesting titles on the list this year – probably a good starting point for getting back into historical fiction!
I read only Seascraper which was good, but not WOW. I read far better historical fiction books this past year, and I don’t see any of them here. So… hm…
Yes, I’ve read some better ones too, but I’ve noticed that the prize judges seem to go for a certain type of book, which isn’t always what I enjoy. I wasn’t too surprised to see Seascraper on this list!