Orwell Prize Winners Announced for 2025

Ukrainian novelist and war crimes investigator Victoria Amelina was posthumously awarded the Orwell Prize for Political Writing for her unfinished book 'Looking at Women, Looking at War,' which documents the experiences and resistance of Ukrainian women during the Russian invasion. The judges described her work as a powerful testimony to war's human consequences. Irish writer Donal Ryan also won the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction for 'Heart, Be at Peace,' a novel set in rural Ireland that features 21 narrative voices reflecting the community's post-conflict struggles and resilience. Judges praised Ryan's novel for its clarity and interconnected perspectives, capturing Ireland's political and economic reverberations. Both winners were announced at a ceremony in London. Each received £3,000 for their achievements.