2005 The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction

From 130 entries and 43 call-ins, the 20 titles nominated for the 2005 prize ranged widely in subject matter. There are were fewer than three books about cities, two impressive first books, five historical biographies, two science books and a tribute to the art of gardening.

Longlist announced

20 April 2005

Shortlist announced

12 May 2005

Winner & prize ceremony

14 June 2005

The winner

Like a Fiery Elephant

The Story of B.S. Johnson

Jonathan Coe

Published by: Picador

What the judges said
“He has brought marvellously to life not only B.S. Johnson - a brilliant and difficult man who wrote only seven novels – but the grim side of struggling to succeed in literary London in the Sixties”

Jonathan Coe with his winning book 'Like a Fiery Elephant'

View the gallery of the prize-giving ceremony

The shortlist

A prestigious shortlist of books are selected each year for the prize.

2005

Stuart

Alexander Masters

2005

MaximumCity

Suketu Mehta

2005

Istanbul

Orhan Pamuk

2005

Matisse the Master

Hilary Spurling

2005

The Italian Boy

Sarah Wise

What the judges said
"We have murder, intrigue, high art and impassioned portraits of two of the world’s greatest cities. And it's heartening for the future of non-fiction publishing that half the list is made up of books by first time authors."

The longlist

The Baillie Gifford Prize rewards excellence in non-fiction writing

2005

Blood & Roses

Helen Castor

2005

Mary Wollstonecraft

Lyndall Gordon

2005

Will in the World

Stephen Greenblatt

2005

Bury the Chains

Adam Hochschild

2005

Parallel Worlds

Michio Kaku

2005

Mutants

Armand Leroi

2005

Salonica, City of Ghosts

Mark Mazower

2005

Leonardo da Vinci

Charles Nicholl

2005

In Command of History

David Reynolds

2005

A Death in Brazil

Peter Robb

2005

The Command of the Ocean

N. A. M. Rodger

2005

Hawkwood

Frances Stonor Saunders

2005

A Little History of British Gardening

Jenny Uglow

What the judges said
"From two writers with first books to consummate biographers, books inspired by some of the world's greatest cities to the gentle art of gardening - this longlist reveals new trends and the current strength of non-fiction."