Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Katherine Boo
2012 The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction
Announced on the birthday of the prize sponsor's namesake Samuel Johnson, the longlist of the 14th edition of the prize took readers across the world to countries including India, Russia and Spain, and span subjects as diverse as economics, feathers, and nuclear power.
Longlist announced
18 September 2012
Shortlist announced
5 October 2012
Winner & prize ceremony
12 November 2012
The winner
Into the Silence
The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest
Published by: The Bodley Head
What the judges said“This fascinating historical narrative of a great adventure manages to shed new light on events and stories we thought we already knew. It’s an exciting story of human endeavour imbued with deep historical significance”
The shortlist
A prestigious shortlist of books are selected each year for the prize.
What the judges said“These are significant books which have the ability to change our view of the world and which we believe will make a lasting contribution to their genres."
The longlist
The Baillie Gifford Prize rewards excellence in non-fiction writing
Meet the judges for 2012
The longlist, shortlist and winner is chosen by a panel of independent judges, which changes every year
The Rt Hon David Willetts MP
Former Conservative politician
Patrick French
Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award
Paul Laity
Non-Fiction books editor at The Guardian
Bronwen Maddox
Former Chief Foreign Commentator and Foreign Editor of The Times
Professor Raymond Tallis
Philosopher, poet and clinical neurologist
