2003 Whitbread Awards

The Whitbread Awards (since 2006 called the Costa Book Awards) are among the United Kingdom's most prestigious literary awards. They were launched in 1971, are given both for high literary merit but also for works that are enjoyable reading and whose aim is to convey the enjoyment of reading to the widest possible audience. This page gives details of the awards given in the year 2003.

Book of the Year

Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Children's Book

Winner:

• David Almond, The Fire-Eaters

Shortlist:

• Catherine Fisher, The Oracle
• Michael Morpurgo, Private Peaceful
• Jeanne Willis, Naked Without a Hat

First Novel

Winner:

• DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little

Shortlist:

• Anne Donovan, Buddha Da
• Paul Murray, An Evening of Long Goodbyes
• Talitha Stevenson, An Empty Room

Novel

Winner:

• Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Shortlist:

• Rachel Cusk, The Lucky Ones
• Shena Mackay, Heligoland
• Barbara Trapido, Frankie & Stankie

Biography

Winner:

• D. J. Taylor, Orwell: The Life

Shortlist:

• John Campbell, Margaret Thatcher - Volume Two: The Iron Lady
• Caroline Moorehead, Martha Gellhorn
• Andrew Wilson, Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith

Poetry

Winner:

• Don Paterson, Landing Light

Shortlist:

• Lavinia Greenlaw, Minsk
• Jamie McKendrick, Ink Stone
• Jean Sprackland, Hard Water

References

• Previous winners