Scotland's National Book Awards, formerly known as the Saltire Society Literary Awards, are made annually by the Saltire Society. First awarded in 1937, they are awarded for books by Scottish authors or about Scotland, and are awarded in several categories.
History The first Saltire Society Book Award was given in 1937, the year after the Saltire Society was established. No awards were given after 1939 due to the Second World War, and the next award was made 1956. The History Book of the Year award was inaugurated in 1965. In 1982 sponsorship was obtained and since then the awards have been made annually. First books have been recognised since 1988, and in 1998 the award for Scottish Research Book of the Year was established.
Until around 2021, the awards were known as the Saltire Society Literary Awards, subtitled Scotland's National Book Awards, but then took on the subtitle as the name covering all of the literary awards that the society awards: Scotland's National Book Awards, and are known by this name .
Description The awards seek to recognise books which are either by "living authors of Scottish descent or residing in Scotland," or which deal with "the work or life of a Scot or with a Scottish question, event or situation".
, the winner in each category receives an award created by artist Simon Baker of Evergreen Studios, based in Inverness; the winners of each literary award receive a cash prize of £2,000, while the winner of the Saltire Society Book of the Year is given a further £4,000.
Categories A one-off Homecoming Book of the Year award was made in 2009 to celebrate the "Year of homecoming": the award was presented to American professor Donald Worster for his biography of John Muir, A Passion for Nature. The shortlist consisted of The Bard: Robert Burns, A Biography, by Robert Crawford, The Testament of Cresseid and Seven Fables, by Seamus Heaney, The Lamplighter, by Jackie Kay and Piano Angel, by Esther Woolfson.
In 2014, the Scottish Literary Book of the Year was awarded, but was replaced after only one year by separate awards for Fiction Book of the Year and Non-Fiction Book of the Year
, the Saltire Society presents awards in seven categories for books, and three awards for publishers: Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award (formerly "Scottish Book of the Year") Saltire Society First Book of the Year Saltire Society History Book of the Year Saltire Society Research Book of the Year Saltire Society Poetry Book of the Year (introduced in 2014) Saltire Society Fiction Book of the Year (introduced in 2015) Saltire Society Non-Fiction Book of the Year (introduced in 2015) Saltire Society Book Cover Design of the Year Saltire Society Publisher of the Year Saltire Society Emerging Publisher of the Year (awarded in partnership with Publishing Scotland)
In 2019, a Lifetime Achievement Award was introduced, the inaugural prize going to Alasdair Gray.
Subsequent winners of the lifetime achievement have been:
Douglas Dunn (2021) Alexander McCall Smith (2022) Liz Lockhead (2023) James Kelman (2024) Kate Atkinson (2025)
In addition, an annual student travel bursary is awarded to a creative writing graduate, and the Ross Roy Medal is awarded for the best PhD thesis on a subject related to Scottish literature.
Past winners Scottish Book of the Year The Scottish Book of the Year award was established in 1937, and was given annually since 1982 until 2024. The award is open to novels, poetry and plays as well as non-fiction works on Scottish subjects.
YearWorkAuthorRef(s) 1937 Highland River Neil M. GunnThe Lord Bothwell Robert Gore-Browne 1939 Three Plays Robert McLellan 1956 One Foot in Eden Edwin Muir 1958 Scotland Before History Stuart Piggott 1982 Lanark: A Life in Four Books Alasdair Gray 1983 Collected Poems Derick Thomson Poems of Thirty Years Edwin Morgan 1984 God and the Poets: The Gifford Lectures David Daiches Intimate Voices: Selected Works Tom Leonard 1985 Collected Poems Norman MacCaig 1986 A Storm from Paradise Stuart Hood 1987 The Stories of Muriel Spark Muriel Spark 1988 Games with Shadows Neal Ascherson The Enchanted Glass: Britain and Its Monarchy Tom Nairn 1989 A Question of Loyalties Allan Massie 1990 O Choille gu Bearradh / From Wood to Ridge Sorley MacLean 1991 Scottish Art 1460–1990 Duncan Macmillan 1992 Collected PoemsIain Crichton Smith 1993 Robert Burns – A Biography James A. Mackay 1994 Beside the Ocean of Time George Mackay Brown 1995 Black Sea Neal Ascherson 1996 The Kiln William McIlvanney 1997 Grace Notes Bernard MacLaverty 1998 The Sopranos Alan Warner 1999 Pursuits George Bruce 2000 The Lantern Bearers Ronald Frame 2001 Medea Liz Lochhead 2002 Clara Janice Galloway 2003 Joseph Knight James Robertson 2004 In Another Light Andrew Greig
YearWorkAuthorResultRef(s) 2005 Case Histories Kate Atkinson WinnerThe Fahrenheit TwinsMichel FaberShortlistRobert Louis StephensonClaire HarmanBlackbirdDavid HarrowerGymnippers DiciadainMartainn Mac an t-saoirThe People's Act Of LoveJames MeekNarrating Scotland: The Imagination of Robert Louis Stevenson Barry MenikoffThe AccidentalAli Smith 2006 A Lie About My Father John Burnside WinnerScott of the Antarctic, A Life of Courage and Tragedy in the Extreme SouthDavid CraneShortlistRaptureCarol Ann DuffyCollected Poems 1965-2005Duncan GlenBad Shaman Blues W N GilbertBe Near MeAndrew O'HaganThe Testament of Gideon MackJames Robertson 2007 Day A. L. Kennedy WinnerSoirbheasMeg BatemanShortlistScotland's Books: The Penguin History of Scottish LiteratureRobert CrawfordThe Last Mughal, The Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi, 1857William DalrympleMy Father: Reith of the BBCMarista LeishmanA History of Modern BritainAndrew MarrSnìomh Nan Dual - 6 CluicheanIain MoireachOrpheusDon PatersonThe Flowers of the Forest, Scotland and the First World WarTrevor Royle 2008 Kieron Smith, Boy James Kelman Winner"Kelman takes top literary prize as Saltire awards get boost" , The Herald, Phil Miller, 29 November 2008.The Red BookMeaghan DelahuntShortlistThe Lost LeaderMick ImlahAn Latha as FhaideMàrtainn Mac an t-SaoirWe Are Now Beginning Our DescentJames MeekThe Atlantic OceanAndrew O'HaganGirl Meets BoyAli Smith 2009 The Bard: Robert Burns, a Biography Robert Crawford WinnerFighting ItRegi ClaireShortlistThe Gate Of AirJames BuchanThis Is Not About MeJanice GallowayWhat BecomesA L KennedyWhen I Heard The Bell Toll: The Loss Of The IolaireJohn MacLeod 2010 And the Land Lay Still James Robertson WinnerAt the Loch of the Green CorrieAndrew GreigShortlistDunsinaneDavid GreigDa Happie LandRobert Alan JamiesonGormshuil an RighFionnlagh MacleoidHamish Henderson: v. 2: Poetry Becomes People (1954-2002)Timothy NeatRainDon PatersonAdam Smith, An Enlightened LifeNick PhillipsonThe Stars in the Bright SkyAlan Warner 2011 A Life in Pictures Alasdair Gray WinnerA Summer Of DrowningJohn BurnsideShortlistFiereJackie KayThe Blue BookA L KennedyThere But For The...Ali SmithReading Shakespeare's SonnetsDon PatersonThe Cuillin 1939 and other Unpublished Poemseditor Christopher White 2012 Mo Said She Was Quirky James Kelman WinnerSightlinesKathleen JamieShortlistThe BeesCarol Ann DuffyDeanamh Gaire ris a’ Chloc (or Laughing at the Clock)Aonghas MacNeacailTales From The MallEwan MorrisonDeadman's PedalAlan WarnerSkagboysIrvine Welsh2013 Something Like Happy John Burnside WinnerLife After LifeKate AtkinsonShortlistThe Professor Of TruthJames RobertsonEmpire AntarcticaGavin FrancisMairi Dhall agus SgeulachdanDonnchadh MacgilliosaLooking For Mrs LivingstoneJulie DavidsonArtfulAli Smith
YearWorkAuthorRef(s) 2014 The Scottish Town in the Age of Enlightenment 1740–1820 Bob Harris and Charles McKean 2015 The Book of Strange New Things Michel Faber 2016The Bonniest CompanieKathleen Jamie2017Border: A Journey to the Edge of EuropeKapka Kassabova2018All That RemainsSue Black2019Working Verse in Victorian Scotland: Poetry, Press, Community Kirstie Blair2020No award given2021Duck FeetEly Percy2022Slaves and Highlanders: Silenced Histories of Scotland and the CaribbeanDavid Alston2023Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All BeganLeah Hazard2024ThunderclapLaura Cumming
Scottish Literary Book of the Year The award for Literary Book of the Year was introduced in 2014, and was open to fiction, non-fiction or plays. The award only existed for one year before being replaced by separate awards for Fiction and Non-Fiction.
YearWorkAuthorResultRef(s)2014How to Be BothAli SmithWinnerAll the RageA L KennedyShortlistGone Are the LeavesAnne DonovanWhere Memories GoSally MagnussonCala BenditaMartin MacIntyreThe James PlaysRona Munro
Scottish Fiction Book of the Year The fiction book of the year award was inaugurated in 2015.
YearWorkAuthorResultRef(s)2015 The Book of Strange New Things Michel Faber WinnerThe IlluminationsAndrew O'HaganShortlistA Decent RideIrvine WelshJellyfishJanice GallowayAn DosanNorma NicleodGod in RuinsKate Atkinson2016 His Bloody Project Graeme Macrae BurnetWinnerThe Blade ArtistsIrvine WelshShortlistDirt RoadJames KelmanThe Sunlight PilgrimsJenni FaganThis Must Be the PlaceMaggie O'FarrellThe Brilliant and ForeverKevin MacNeil2017 Memory and Straw Angus Peter CampbellWinnerMidwinter BreakBernard MacLavertyShortlistThe Long DropDenise MinaThat Was a ShiverJames KelmanDalilaJason DonaldAshland and VineJohn Burnside2018Elsewhere, HomeLeila AboulelaWinnerA Treachery of SpiesManda ScottShortlistDead Men's TrousersIrvine WelshThe Growing SeasonHelen SedgwickThe Great Chain of UnbeingAndrew CrumeyThe Sealwoman's GiftSally Magnusson2019 Nina X Ewan Morrison Winner Bird SummonsLeila AboulelaShortlistYou Will Be Safe HereDamian BarrTigerPolly ClarkDucks, NewburyportLucy EllmannCòig Duilleagan na Seamraig (Five Leaves of the Shamrock)Ruairidh MacIlleathain (Roddy MacLean)2020No award given2021Duck FeetEly PercyWinnerScabby QueenKirstin InnesShortlistShuggie BainDouglas StuartLuckenboothJenni FaganThere's Only One Danny GarveyDavid F. Ross2022Blood & Gold: A Journey of ShadowsMara MenziesWinnerBe Guid Tae Yer MammyEmma GraeShortlistCwenAlice AlbiniaNews of the DeadJames RobertsonThe PharmacistRachelle AtallaYoung MungoDouglas Stuart2023In AscensionMartin MacInnesWinnercrann-fie/Fig TreeDuncan GilliesShortlistElectricityAndrew Peter CampbellHell SansEver DundasMother SeaLorraine WilsonOrpheus Builds a GirlHeather Parry2024What Doesn't Kill UsAjay CloseWinnerStudy for ObedienceSarah BernsteinShortlistClearCarys DaviesLost PeopleMargaret ElphinstoneHazardous SpiritsAnbara Salam2025A Woman of OpinionSean LuskWinnerIdle GroundsKrystelle BamfordShortlistThis Bright LifeKaren CampbellPhantom LimbChris KohlerHermitChris McQueerMuckle FluggaMichael Pedersen
Scottish First Book of the Year The first book of the year award was inaugurated in 1988 and recognises an author who has not previously published a book. As with the book of the year, the award is open to novels, plays, poems and non-fiction. After 2006, books shortlisted for the award were listed alongside the winner.
YearWorkAuthorRef(s) 1988 The Richt Noise Raymond Vettese 1989 Cells of Knowledge Sian Hayton 1990 The Ballad of Sawney Bain Harry Tait 1991 Night Geometry and the Garscadden TrainsA. L. Kennedy 1992 Adoption Papers Jackie Kay Uirsgeul/MythChristopher Whyte 1993 Robert Louis Stevenson: Dreams of ExileIan Bell 1994 Music, in a Foreign Language Andrew Crumey 1995 Free Love and Other Stories Ali Smith 1996 Slattern Kate Clanchy 1997 A Painted Field Robin Robertson 1998 The Pied Piper's Poison Christopher WallaceTwo Clocks Ticking Dennis O'Donnell 1999 Some Rain Must Fall Michel Faber 2000 The Rising Sun Douglas Galbraith 2001 In the Blue House Meaghan Delahunt 2002 Burns the Radical Liam McIlvanney The Cutting Room Louise Welsh 2003 Ath – AithneMartainn Mac an t-saoir 2004 Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper Peter Hill