Announcing the Winners of the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize
The Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in conjunction with its generous sponsor ARA Group, is delighted to announce the winners of the richest individual literary prize in Australasia with prize monies of $155,000 across the Adult and the Children & Young Adult categories. In addition, the winner of the inaugural Readers’ Choice Award receives $5,000.
HNSA Chair, Elisabeth Storrs, says,“The winning novels in the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize demonstrate irresistible prose, unforgettable characters, meticulous research, and epic storytelling are the true indicators of remarkable historical fiction. Each author's distinct voice resonates within their novels as they explore very different facets of untold history with stories of courage, intrigue, trauma and folklore.”
The ARA Historical Novel Prize has been made possible through the generous patronage of ARA Group. Founder Edward Federman, says, “ARA Group is delighted to support the ARA Historical Novel Prize as it continues to grow its presence in Australian and New Zealand literature. Celebrating authors who add to our shared body of published work is something we value deeply, and the Prize gives their stories to a larger audience. Congratulations to the 2026 winners.”
ADULT CATEGORY
The Adult category prize was awarded to The Names of the Hare by Bernice Barry (Fremantle Press)
Bernice Barry's The Names of a Hare follows a woman who is condemned to a life of constant reinvention to outrun accusations of witchcraft for practising healing and herbal lore in C17th Cornwall. The novel is steeped in the language and folklore of Cornwall, and its landscape is beautifully and evocatively drawn with 'a quiet power that lingers in the mind'.
The two other authors on the Adult shortlist also receive an additional $5000: Lauren Keenan for The Other Catherine and Fiona Kelly McGregor for The Trap.
THE JUDGING PANEL
This year's judging panels comprise industry professionals and prominent historical novelists. The Adult category is chaired by Linda Funnell, with panellists David Whish-Wilson, Renee Otmar, Robyn Cadwallader, and Theresa Smith.
Judges for the Adult Prize said:
“The Names of a Hare is a novel of great depth and beauty that fully immerses the reader in the life of its protagonist in seventeenth-century Cornwall. Bernice Barry's subtle, considered and poetic prose works like a spell, building slowly and imperceptibly, attentively describing the natural world and the lives of rural folk in a time of great historical turmoil.
For the protagonist, who goes by many names, the natural world is both a solace and a source of wisdom, and mixing plant remedies is simply part of life. But it is also dangerous, and condemns her to a life of constant reinvention to outrun accusations of witchcraft.
Barry's novel is steeped in the language and folklore of Cornwall, and its landscape is beautifully and evocatively drawn. This is a novel of understated power that lingers in the mind, and the judges are unanimous in commending it as the winner of the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize.”
WHAT THE AUTHOR SAYS:
Bernice Barry says, “This story has lived with me for many years, so receiving the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize for The Names of a Hare is profoundly moving, humbling and thrilling in equal measure. Thank you to the judges, the ARA Group and the HNSA for the biggest surprise of my life.”
CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULT CATEGORY
The CYA category prize was awarded to Meg Caddy for A Flash in the Dust (University of Queensland Press).
In Meg Caddy's A Flash in the Dust it's 1899 - a time when bush rangers patrol the roads, and girls who don't behave find themselves institutionalised. Grounded confidently in its research, A Flash in the Dust brings queer adolescents back in from the fringes of history, and is a 'powerful reminder to contemporary readers that everyone's lives deserve a place on the page
The two other authors on the Adult shortlist also receive an additional $5000: Jackie French for Cleopatra: The Girl Who Would Be King and Clare Hallifax for A House Divided.
THE JUDGING PANEL
The Children & Young Adult category is chaired by Sophie Masson, with panellists Bee Kavanagh and Stacy Gregg.
Judges for the Children & Young Adult Prize said:
“It wasn't easy, choosing a winner from the three excellent finalists, especially as each book was so different in concept, execution, and age range. But in the end Meg Caddy's YA novel, A Flash In the Dust set in WA in 1899, stood out for its powerful exploration of marginalised histories, within a suspenseful and characterful story which is grounded confidently in its research.
Beginning in the forbidding atmosphere of Fremantle Asylum and developing through an increasingly dangerous search for the truth about a murder, this bold, compelling historical adventure brings queer adolescents back in from the fringes of history, and is a potent reminder to contemporary readers that everyone’s lives deserve a place on the page.”
WHAT THE AUTHOR SAYS:
Meg Caddy says, 'I'm humbled and thrilled to receive the ARA Historical Novel Prize in the CYA category. Thank you to the judges, and the ARA Group and HNSA for their generosity. Flash is inspired by Australian histories of queer courage, resourcefulness, and joy; it is an honour to help c
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
This year, HNSA introduced our Readers’ Choice Award to give readers an opportunity to vote for their favourite Adult longlisted novel. We were delighted with the enthusiastic response. Wayne Marshall was presented with $5,000 for Henry Goes Bush (Picador Australia).
WHAT THE AUTHOR SAYS:
Wayne Marshall says: 'I'm absolutely delighted to have won the Readers' Choice Award as part of the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize. That Henry Goes Bush was longlisted for the prize in the first place was already a massive thrill. It's a strange and unconventional novel, taking a moment from Australian literary history and attempting to push the boundaries of what historical fiction can do, and to have the work recognised by the judges of such a prestigious prize is enormously satisfying. The added element of the Readers' Choice Award is such a wonderful and generous thing. To all the readers who voted for Henry Goes Bush - I am eternally grateful.’
ABOUT ARA GROUP
The ARA Historical Novel Prize has been made possible by the generosity of our Foundation Partner, ARA Group, which is committed to supporting the arts and literature. They do this in a number of ways – as a Principal Partner of the Sydney Writers’ Festival, the Melbourne Writers Festival, the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Monkey Baa Theatre, and the Story Factory– and now as the sponsor of this very significant literary prize.
Entries for the 2027 ARA Historical Novel Prize will open in March 2027.
Subscribe to our newsletter to be first to hear contest news.