The story of England’s turbulent Stuart century wins the Wolfson History Prize 2022
Find out about the winner and runners-up of the Wolfson History Prize 2022, now in its 50th year, which recognises authors who excel in writing readable and scholarly history for a general audience
Clare Jackson has been named winner of the 2022 Wolfson History Prize for her book Devil-Land: England Under Siege, 1588–1688 (Allen Lane), taking the £50,000 prize.
Her winning book is a compelling history of England’s turbulent century under the Stuart monarchy, where the perils of civil war, fire, plague, and political division led European neighbours to refer to the country as ‘Devil-Land’.
England at this time, Jackson told BBC History Magazine as her book launched, was seen as a pariah state, "ruled by regicidal rebels who’d publicly executed their king".
"You get a feeling that events were unfolding at a dizzying speed that even contemporaries had difficulty getting their heads around," Jackson told us.
"Throughout the book I tried to put myself in their position – to imagine how it would feel to not know who might be on the throne this time next year, or what sort of religious settlement might be in place. So much was precarious in the 17th century and so much was up for grabs.”
Jackson was announced as the winner of the Wolfson History Prize 2022 on Wednesday 22 June 2022 in a ceremony at the Wallace Collection in London.
David Cannadine, chair of the Wolfson History Prize judges, describes Devil-Land as a masterpiece of historical writing.
"By looking at England from the perspective of European observers, Clare Jackson gives us a wider lens through which to view the period, helping us to see ourselves through the eyes of others," he writes. "Devil-Land is a fitting winner of the Wolfson History Prize in this our fiftieth year.”
- More from Clare Jackson | Why England was seen as a “pariah state”
- On the HistoryExtra podcast | Clare Jackson discusses the turbulent Stuart century
- Buy this book now on Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org
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What is the Wolfson History Prize?
First awarded in 1972, the annual Wolfson History Prize recognises authors who excel in writing readable and scholarly history for a general audience.
The Wolfson History Prize was created to champion the best and most accessible historical writing and to highlight the importance of history to modern life. This year marks the prize’s 50th anniversary.
Celebrations for the prize's 50th anniversary include a series of free events in partnership with BBC History Magazine, which will be recorded and later released as episodes of the HistoryExtra podcast.
The first of these will explore History and Science and History, Empires and Global Histories, with panellists including historians Olivette Otele and Sanjoy Bhattacharya, previous Wolfson History Prize winner Sudhir Hazareesingh, shortlisted authors Toby Green and Lindsey Fitzharris, and chair of judges David Cannadine.
Previous winners have included Mary Beard, Anthony Beevor, David Abulafia and Amanda Vickery. Last year’s Wolfson History Prize was awarded to Sudhir Hazareesingh’s Black Spartacus: The Epic Life of Toussaint Louverture, an in-depth exploration of the leader the Haitian Revolution.
- On the podcast | Sudhir Hazareesingh on Toussaint Louverture’s revolutionary life
Wolfson History Prize 2022 runners up – who was on the shortlist?
Five more books were shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize 2022:
The Ottomans: Khans, Caesars and Caliphs
Marc David Baer | Published by Basic Books
What the judges said: “A hugely impressive sweeping narrative. Covering seven centuries, this book adds a new perspective to global history by emphasising the role of this longstanding and important dynasty.”
- From this author | What if the Ottomans had won the battle of Lepanto?
- On the HistoryExtra podcast | Marc David Baer discusses the Ottoman “Age of Discovery”
- Buy this book now on Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org
The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World
Malcolm Gaskill | Published by Allen Lane
What the judges said: “A riveting micro-history, brilliantly set within the broader social and cultural history of witchcraft. Drawing on previously neglected source material, this book is elegantly written and full of intelligent analysis.”
- Watch | Malcolm Gaskill on The Ruin of All Witches
- On the HistoryExtra podcast | Malcolm Gaskill discusses a forgotten witch hunt in New England
- Buy this book now on Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org
Going to Church in Medieval England
Nicholas Orme | Published by Yale University Press
What the judges said: “An engaging and often moving account of how religious life was woven into people’s everyday experiences from Anglo-Saxon times to the Reformation. A sparkling book.”
- From this author | Your guide to religion and worship in the Middle Ages
- On the HistoryExtra podcast | Nicholas Orme explores the church in medieval England
- Buy this book now on Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org
God: An Anatomy
Francesca Stavrakopoulou | Published by Picador
What the judges said: “Original and courageous. This ambitious yet readable discussion of the physicality of God enhances our understanding of the history of monotheistic religions and Western culture.”
- On the HistoryExtra podcast | Francesca Stavrakopoulou explores what ancient biblical texts tell us about the anatomy of God
- Buy this book now on Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org
Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Made History
Alex von Tunzelmann | Published by Headline
What the judges said: “Intelligent, illuminating and thoroughly enjoyable. A well-researched book that uses carefully chosen case studies to shed light on a topic of contemporary debate.”
- From this author | “Debates about statues are often posed in simplistic primary colours”
- On the HistoryExtra podcast | Alex von Tunzelmann on the great statue debate: should they stand or fall?
- Buy this book now on Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org
Who were the judges of the Wolfson History Prize 2022?
There were four judges on Wolfson History Prize 2022 judging panel:
- David Cannadine (chair) | Dodge Professor of History at Princeton University, a Visiting Professor of History at the University of Oxford, the editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Richard Evans | Regius Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Cambridge
- Carole Hillenbrand | Professor Emerita of Islamic History at the University of Edinburgh and Professorial Fellow (Islamic History) at the University of St Andrews
- Diarmaid MacCulloch | Fellow of Saint Cross College and Campion Hall, and Professor Emeritus of the History of the Church at the University of Oxford
Read more about the Wolfson History Prize on the official website
Authors
Kev Lochun is Deputy Digital Editor of HistoryExtra.com and previously Deputy Editor of BBC History Revealed. As well as commissioning content from expert historians, he can also be found interviewing them on the award-winning HistoryExtra podcast.
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