Book on Alexander the Great wins Baillie Gifford Prize

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 5 Nov, 04:50 · Archive

Edmund Richardson's Alexander: God, King, Man has won the £50,000 Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction. The award, announced at a ceremony in London, marks the first time an ancient history title has won the prize since it was founded in 1999. Richardson, 44, a historian at the University of Durham, beat five other shortlisted titles including Patrick Radden Keefe's London Falling: A Mysterious Death In A Gilded City And A Family's Search for Truth.

The book traces Alexander's life from 336BC, when he inherited a near-bankrupt Macedonian kingdom aged 20, through his conquest of the Persian empire stretching to the Indian subcontinent, to his death in Babylon aged 32. Richardson drew on more than a decade of research across four continents and translated sources from 12 ancient languages himself. He also incorporated recent archaeological discoveries, including newly decoded records kept by Babylonian astronomers of Alexander's time.

Kirsty Lang, chair of the judges, described the book as combining 'new technology and recent archaeological discoveries to tell the story of an extraordinary leader'. Richardson said winning the prize was 'one of the greatest honours of my life', adding: 'When you write about the ancient world, you don't expect people to pay attention. The fact that the judges, and I hope readers might see something in the story of Alexander that they connect with, means it's a story worth telling and remembering.'

How it is being reported

• Book about Alexander the Great wins Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fictionIt is the first time a title covering ancient history has won the prize since the award was launched in 1999.Evening Standard · 4 Nov, 23:47
• ‘Blockbuster’ history of Alexander the Great wins £50,000 Baillie Gifford prizeAlexander: God, King, Man by Edmund Richardson becomes the first ancient history title to win the prestigious nonfiction award • Alexander: God, King, Man by Edmund Richardson review – a dazzling, dizzying adventure Edmund Richardson has won the 2026 Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction for Alexander: God, King, Man, his account of the life of Alexander the Great, becoming the first writer to win the prize for an ancient history book. Richardson was awarded the £50,000 prize at a ceremony in London on Wednesday evening, beating a six-strong shortlist that included former winner Patrick…The Guardian · 4 Nov, 22:15
• Alexander: God, King, Man by Edmund Richardson review – a dazzling, dizzying adventureThe winner of the 2026 Baillie Gifford prize is a riveting work of ancient history that feels startlingly present • ‘Blockbuster’ history of Alexander the Great wins £50,000 Baillie Gifford prize In 336BC, Alexander was not great. He was a wiry 20-year-old “no one had thought much about” who found himself king of Macedon after the assassination of his father, Philip. He seemed uniquely unfit for the position. Desperate to prove his worth, Alexander led an army into the Persian empire to confront Darius III, a man who ruled more than 50 million people. Darius was so confident of victory that…The Guardian · 4 Nov, 22:15
• Book about Alexander the Great wins Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fictionIt is the first time a title covering ancient history has won the prize since the award was launched in 1999.Evening Standard · 4 Nov, 22:15

In this story: Edmund Richardson · Alexander the Great · Patrick Radden Keefe · Kirsty Lang · University of Durham · Baillie Gifford · Macedon · Babylon

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