Kate Mosse wins the British Book Award for Social Impact in Celebration of Allen Lane
The award was given in recognition of Mosse’s work on the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Kate Mosse was awarded the British Book Award for Social Impact in Celebration of Allen Lane yesterday evening at a ceremony at Grosvenor House. The award was given in recognition of Mosse’s work on the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
‘The impact of the prize has been profound, changing the conversation around women’s writing. . . and for all this Mosse reminds a cheerful, incisive, kind and incredibly persuasive force of nature.’
Award presenter and fellow author JoJo Moyes
Kate Mosse is the author of eleven novels and short story collections, including the bestselling The Joubert Family Chronicles – The Burning Chambers, The City of Tears, The Ghost Ship and The Map of Bones – as well as the multimillion selling Languedoc Trilogy - Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Citadel - and bestselling Gothic fiction including The Winter Ghosts and The Taxidermist's Daughter. She has also written four works of non-fiction – including her memoir about caring An Extra Pair of Hands and Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (Also) Built the World.
In September, she will publish her first book for young adults – Feminist History for Every Day of the Year with Macmillan Children’s Books.
‘I’m rarely lost for words. . .The only award I have ever won in my whole life is a Nibbie [for Labyrinth twenty years ago], and now I have another. We know we’re living through extraordinary times. . . we know what tyranny looks like, because books and authors have shown us. We know what genocide, what femicide, what unfairness looks like, because books have shown us. In the end, words are the only defence against the lies of history. . . we must use our voices and our power to turn back the tide of what is happening. . . The journey is not yet over. ’
Kate Mosse
Rebecca Sinclair, Chief Brand Officer at Penguin Random House UK, said:
'This is a special year, as we celebrate ninety years since Penguin’s founder Allen Lane changed reading with his launch of the first ten Penguin paperbacks. His transformative – some thought outlandish – idea was to provide quality literature at an affordable price. Widening access to books, in all forms and formats, is as relevant today as it was back in 1935.
There are so many individuals and organisations working to remove barriers and inspire the next generation of readers and we’re delighted to see Kate Mosse awarded the first ever British Book Award for Social Impact. Her vision and ongoing commitment to the Women’s Prize, which has grown to become a formidable platform, has been unwavering and the impact of her work profound.'
