The winner of the twenty-sixth Christopher Ewart-Biggs Literary Prize, worth £7,500, is Anna Burns for her novel Milkman.

Given the rubric of the Prize, and the strong commitment to Europe of both Jane and Christopher Ewart-Biggs, a separate Ewart-Biggs prize, also of £7,500, is awarded this year, to a work dealing with the implications of Brexit for Ireland, Britain and Europe.

This has been won by Katy Hayward, for the Twitter account on which she provides her own political and sociological account of the Brexit process as it unfolds, as well as curating an up-to-date link to a range of work by other authorities.

The eligible work covered 2018 and 2019 and produced a wide and stimulating variety of entries.

View the 2018 – 2019 Prize winners and shortlist.

‘Work’ is defined broadly. It has been won by works of history, politics, fiction, drama, journalism and memoir. See past winners.

The Prize recognises work promoting and encouraging:

• peace and reconciliation in Ireland
• a greater understanding between the peoples of Britain and Ireland, or
• closer co-operation between the partners of the European Community.