News

Anonymous philanthropist ups Samuel Johnson Prize

17.02.12 | Benedicte Page

An anonymous philanthropist has stepped forward to sponsor the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction with immediate effect, raising the winner's prize for 2012 by £5,000 to £25,000. Shortlisted authors will each win £1,000.

The directors of the prize said the new sponsor is "passionately interested in books, reading and literacy" but wishes to support the award anonymously. 

Timing for the award-giving has also been changed, with the shortlist now due in early autumn and the winner announced on 12th November, to reflect the fact that autumn is the prime season for non-fiction publishing and buying.

The BBC will continue to be the prize's media partner, giving coverage on BBC 2's "The Culture Show" and on BBC Radio 4.

Stuart Profitt, chairman of the Samuel Johnson Steering Committee, said: "At a time of general gloom and cuts in the arts and literary worlds, we are thrilled to be making an announcement of this kind. We are, of course, enormously grateful to our new sponsor, and very pleased to be continuing our broadcast partnership with the BBC, who have supported us so strongly since 2002. The impact of this prize, which grows every year, is a reflection of the quality and diversity of non-fiction publishing in the UK. This new arrangement will allow us to increase its influence further."

The Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction is in its 14th year; last year's winner was Mao's Great Famine by Frank Dikotter (Bloomsbury).

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