The Orwell Prize
@TheOrwellPrize
Followers
25K
Following
4K
Media
1K
Statuses
15K
Awarded by The Orwell Foundation, registered charity no 1161563 | Sign up to our newsletter: https://t.co/sX9aGhvX2t
Joined January 2009
“Troubled times lure out the very best from fiction. Only one can win. All should be read.” – Jim Crace, Chair of Judges. Introducing the finalists for the 2025 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. Discover the list: #OrwellPrize2025 #PoliticalFiction
3
35
59
The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2022 winner is @GeorgeMonbiot (@Guardian). Congratulations!
135
863
5K
The British writer George Orwell died 70 years ago #onthisday, aged 46. As well as believing in the moral power of language, Orwell understood the dangers of its corruption. Seventy years after his death, Orwell has never been more relevant to the world we inhabit. #orwellday.
25
1K
2K
Darren McGarvey @lokiscottishrap wins The Orwell Prize 2018 for Books. "I never thought I would be involved in this conversation." #orwellprize @rsa
73
305
977
The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2023 is awarded to Gary Younge (@garyyounge) for an entry including essays and a podcast on race, inequality and the history and legacy of slavery in Britain. Congratulations, Gary!
29
222
875
"I don’t think it’s possible to hold a free and fair election in Britain at the moment. Our electoral laws need rewriting from the bottom up.". @TheOrwellPrize winner @carolecadwalla's interview w/ @AnyaRPearson for our partners @po_qu from Nov last year.
11
278
662
We are delighted to announce that @ComputerWeekly have been awarded a Special Prize at tonight's Orwell Prize Ceremony, for their work breaking the Post Office Horizon scandal, and sustained investigation and reportage of the story over many, many years.
23
222
728
The winner of the 2020 #OrwellPrize for Journalism is Janice Turner (@VictoriaPeckham) for columns on human trafficking and the 'red wall', and a feature on clearing her childhood home in Doncaster. "The essence of Brexit oozed from every sentence"- Chair of Judges, @benfenton
46
143
614
First up, here is your #orwellprize for Political Writing longlist 2020. As we move into an uncertain future, these books warn us to tread carefully. Congratulations to all the longlisted authors!
12
146
521
The 2021 #orwellprize for Political Fiction Prize longlist range across place and time, from counterfactual fiction to apocalyptic visions of climate breakdown. These twelve novels demonstrate that politics is not just a question of the intellect, but of the imagination too.
7
187
490
As the UK experiences its hottest day on record and faces unprecedented temperatures, @GeorgeMonbiot's lead article in his winning submission to The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2022 is a must read:.
14
215
377
The Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2022 winner is ‘My Fourth Time, We Drowned’ by @sallyhayd (@4thEstateBooks). Congratulations!
13
120
374
Congratulations to the winner of the #OrwellPrize for Political Writing 2020, Kate Clanchy (@KateClanchy1), chosen for her reflections in 'Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me' (@picadorbooks) on teaching and how her students' stories offer insights into British society
19
118
356
Loads of @lokiscottishrap's @TheOrwellPrize winning (and @ST_Culture bestselling) Poverty Safari in @Waterstones yesterday. As there well should be!
13
36
359
It is our pleasure to announce that Ali Smith is the winner of The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2021 for her novel ‘Summer’ (@HamishH1931, @PenguinUKBooks). Earlier this week, Ali Smith visited Orwell’s family home in Southwold, Suffolk, from where she sent us this film.
14
120
340
The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2022 winner is 'Small Things Like These’ by @CKeeganFiction (@FaberBooks). Congratulations! Thanks to our Fiction Prize sponsors @AMHeathLtd and Richard Blair.
15
76
304
WINNER ANNOUNCED: The winner of the inaugural Orwell Prize for Political Fiction is Anna Burns for Milkman, published by @FaberBooks. The prize is sponsored and supported by Richard Blair and @AMHeathLtd #OrwellPrize
3
147
326
Congratulations to Orwell Prize for Journalism 2018 winner @carolecadwalla - now Technology Journalist of the Year at #PressAwards.
4
59
258
The 2021 #orwellprize for Political Writing longlist takes in conspiracies, care, environmental crisis and political power. A central theme is the value and vulnerability of truth, from restoring forgotten histories to the consequences of widespread mistrust in our institutions.
7
94
300
This year's winner of the #OrwellPrize for @jrf_uk Exposing Britain's Social Evils is Ian Birrell (@ianbirrell) for his investigation into the abuse of vulnerable people within the healthcare system, raising far-reaching questions over their human rights. A big congratulations 👏
25
143
278
The Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain's Social Evils goes to Shanti Das @shanti_das for reporting on modern slavery in the care sector & Mark Townsend @TownsendMark for exposing the kidnapping of children from Home Office care. Congratulations both & all involved at @ObserverUK.
4
78
258
From the impact of Covid-19 in the UK to authoritarian impunity worldwide the 2021 #orwellprize for Journalism longlist features the best commentary alongside collaborative reporting, all in pursuit of George Orwell's own ambition 'to make political writing into an art'.
74
66
236
The finalists for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2023 reveal what complex times we live in - even as the clarity of the storytelling offers a way through: from geopolitics & the overcoming of historical inequalities, to ideas for our shared future. Congratulations all!
12
89
249
This year’s #orwellprize for Political Fiction longlist of 13 books is dominated by female writers. Settings range across four continents, from the past to the not-so-distant future. It’s only the second year the Prize has been awarded. #orwellprize
4
129
226
WINNER ANNOUNCED: The winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2019 is Patrick Radden Keefe for Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, published by @WmCollinsBooks @praddenkeefe #OrwellPrize
1
78
203
Congratulations to Peter, and all the 2023 finalists.
11
78
213
The winners of The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2021 are John Harris (@johnharris1969) and John Domokos (@JohnDomokos) for a series of films from their @guardianopinion 'Anywhere But Westminster' series and associated writing. Congratulations!
22
49
202
Understanding what is needed to fix the society Covid-19 has revealed demands hard-won investigative work, personal commitment, and reporting which keeps the public constantly in mind: all qualities demonstrated by the 2021 @jrf_uk Exposing Britain's Social Evils Prize longlist.
13
44
201
The eight novels nominated for The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2023 encompass the political life of people in society on many levels, from many angles, as their authors confront the deepest fears and hopes that drive individuals and communities today. Congratulations all!
3
77
185
The seven books shortlisted for this year's Orwell Prize for Political Writing may have been written in a pre-Covid era, but they speak to us about the world we might want to live in after and during this crisis. Congratulations to each author! #orwellprize
11
79
173
The winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2023 is THE NEW LIFE by Tom Crewe (@TomCrewe1), published by @ChattoBooks, which explores sexual identities in 1890s London with great compassion, lucidity and poise. Congratulations Tom, and all involved with the book!
8
59
179
From the corruption of the media to pervasive new technologies, from poverty and inequality to the rise of political extremism, George Orwell's concerns are as germane to our time as they were to the circumstances in which his novels, non-fiction and journalism were conceived.
3
47
151
The Winner of the Orwell Prize for Journalism 2017 is @fotoole - Congratulations! #orwellprize.
4
41
131
Here's your recommended reading from the Orwell Prize: the #Books Longlist 2017 #politicalwriting
1
97
143
Today we're celebrating 90 years since the publication of George Orwell's first full-length work, 'Down and Out in Paris and London'. Find out more about our plans for the anniversary year, including our new #OrwellPrize for Reporting Homelessness:
8
30
134
Congratulations to the winner of this year's #OrwellPrize for Political Fiction, Colson Whitehead (@colsonwhitehead), whose 'The Nickel Boys' (@FleetReads) was chosen for its convincing character portrayal and unsparing depiction of corruption and racial brutality
2
73
145
The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction, only in its second year, rewards outstanding novels and collections of short stories which illuminate major social and political themes, past and present, through the art of narrative. Congratulations to the 2020 shortlistees! #orwellprize
13
65
130
Announcing the winner of The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2024 - @hishamjmatar with his novel My Friends [@VikingBooksUK]. Congratulations Hisham! . #OrwellPrizes2024 .With thanks to our judges @alexhharris, Lara Choksey, @SimonOkotie and Ross Raisin.
5
48
145
The Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils 2022 winner is @EdThomasNews for his @bbcnews series ‘The Cost of Covid: Burnley Crisis'. Congratulations! Thank you to our partners @jrf_uk for their ongoing support of the Prize.
14
38
137
We have news! Longlists for all 4 @TheOrwellPrize 2019 revealed, including inaugural Prize for Political Fiction and Prize for Political Writing. Congratulations to all the nominees, and a huge thank you to all our panels. Read more:
3
100
129
Featuring reportage, history, essays, economics and anthropology,.many of these often in the same book, the finalists for #TheOrwellPrize for Political Writing 2022 are a mixture of established names and debut.authors. Congratulations to all those on this year's shortlist!
12
53
126
Congratulations to all those longlisted for Orwell Prize for Journalism 2018! Find out more about them at #OrwellPrize2018
14
33
107
#OrwellPrize 2018 shortlist recap: @VictoriaPeckham is shortlisted for the Journalism Prize. Read her entry:
12
44
113
🚨NEWSFLASH! We are launching a new Prize for Political Fiction, which will reward novels & collections of short stories that illuminate major social & political themes, present or past, through the art of narrative.
4
99
121
Join our panel of experts @jessphillips, @louisetickle, @HannahAlOthman, and @nazirafzal on how and why, too often, society is failing to keep women safe. Join the debate through an extended Q&A and be part of the solution. 13 July - UCL - Tickets:
8
39
111
The winner of the 2023 Orwell Prize for Political Writing is Peter Apps (@PeteApps), for SHOW ME THE BODIES, pub. @OneworldNews — which details the choices and oversights which led to the Grenfell Tower Fire in clear, gripping prose. Congratulations Peter, & all the finalists.
0
51
116
'Nineteen Eighty-Four' was published #onthisday in 1949. In 2017 @TheOrwellPrize read the novel live, dramatised by @HannahPrice, with 50 guest readers including @DavidOlusoga, @ETemelkuran, @simon_schama, @Bonn1eGreer and many more. It took 11 hours:
'Who controls the past,’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.’.
4
60
100
Over the last 37 years, @GeorgeMonbiot has been trying to raise the profile of a wide range of desperately neglected environmental issues. Join him on 8 July, 6.30pm, for a discussion on his pieces shortlisted for The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2022:.
0
30
103
We're delighted to be welcoming anti-corruption campaigner @Billbrowder, author of New York Times bestseller 'Freezing Order', to London this November to give the annual Orwell Lecture. 📅22/11/23 @ucl. Tickets on sale now via Eventbrite:
7
14
95
This year sees the 70th anniversary of the publication of 1984. To mark the occasion we're sharing our live reading over two months, finishing on publication day: 8th June. Watch at and follow us & #1984at70 for the whole story 👇
2
48
97
George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' was first published on this day, 17 August 1945. It's original, full title is 'Animal Farm: A Fairy Story', but the subtitle was dropped by US publishers in 1946.
10
48
97
We're delighted to announce that Lisa Nandy MP (@lisanandy) will deliver this year's Orwell Lecture, which is taking place on Tues 6th December at @ucl, home of the Orwell Archive. Tickets are on sale via Eventbrite, with concessions and online options.
11
32
88
Today we're sharing a Q&A with James Rebanks (@herdyshepherd1), shepherd and writer, who is shortlisted for the 2021 Orwell Prize for Political Writing for his book 'English Pastoral':.
2
23
95
We're delighted to announce the longlists for the Orwell Prize for Books, Journalism, and Exposing Britain's Social Evils 2018. See all three #OrwellPrize2018 longlists on our website:
3
70
92
Good luck to all the bookshops opening today! Readers: here's a gentle reminder of the 25 best political books of 2020, as chosen by the #orwellprize judges and announced last Friday:
6
33
101
Finally, featuring the best journalism at home and abroad, the finalists on this year's shortlist for #TheOrwellPrize for Journalism 2022 clearly meet Orwell’s ambition ‘to make political writing into an art’
8
34
91
Congratulations to the finalists for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2024! . "Many of the books we have chosen are sure to become modern classics. It will not be easy to choose a winner." - @peterfrankopan, Chair of Judges. Explore the shortlists:
6
41
95
'This is a markedly varied list, something that reflects the diversity and variety at the very top of contemporary writing' - Adam Roberts, Chair of Judges. Congratulations to #TheOrwellPrize for Political Fiction 2022 finalists, who are all first-time Orwell Prize nominees
3
41
93
The Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness 2023 goes jointly to Daniel Lavelle @DaniLavelle & Freya Marshall Payne @fmarshallpayne for reporting drawing on their experiences of rough sleeping and hidden homelessness. Congratulations Daniel, Freya and all the inaugural finalists.
9
28
93
To mark the 70th anniversary of George Orwell's death, we've collaborated with @UCLSpecColl to produce an exclusive short film. Watch @djtaylorwriter reconstruct Orwell's final months, weeks and days through some of the items in the George Orwell Archive:
1
40
88
From the impact of Covid-19 to authoritarian impunity worldwide, the 2021 #orwellprize for Journalism longlist features the best commentary and collaborative reporting, all in pursuit of Orwell's ambition 'to make political writing into an art':
11
29
87
Congratulations to Paul Caruana Galizia (@pcaruanagalizia) and Katie Gunning (@KatieGunning2), Highly Commended in The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2023 for their podcast series 'Londongrad' (@tortoise). Find out more about Paul and Katie's entry:
0
29
85
A clarification that Douglas Murray - correct Twitter handle @DouglasKMurray - is shortlisted for #OrwellPrize2016 for journalism.
1
16
85
In its eighth year, #TheOrwellPrize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils, sponsored by @jrf_uk, remains committed to enhancing the public understanding of social problems and public policy in the UK. Each finalist on the shortlist embodies this commitment.
8
31
84
The seven books on this year's Orwell Prize for Political Writing shortlist confront and articulate the political challenges of our day, often while calling on the past to show how we ended up here. Congratulations to the authors and a huge thanks to all our judges.
3
28
83
A Special Prize of Commendation goes to @HannahAlOthman and @DavidCollinsST of @thetimes for their Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain's Social Evils (@jrf_uk) shortlisted investigation ‘The Murder of Agnes Wanjiru’. Congratulations both!.
0
9
80
This year’s #orwellprize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils longlist awards a list of original, insightful, and impactful reporting across a diverse selection of media that has enhanced the public understanding of social problems in the UK
7
53
83
'I thought I knew a bit about data bias but @CCriadoPerez really opened my eyes in a book that also somehow also manages to be entertaining and easy to read. '.#orwellprize #politicalwriting @ChattoBooks .
1
11
78
WINNER ANNOUNCED: The Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain's Social Evils 2019 has been won by Max Daly, Global Drugs editor at @Vice for 'Behind County Lines'. The prize is supported by @jrf_UK #OrwellPrize
10
30
72
"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but already it was impossible to say which was which." George Orwell's #AnimalFarm was first published #OnThisDay in 1945. Seen here in the drought-stricken grass of summer 2022!
3
30
79
Congratuations to @douglaskmurray on being longlisted for the #OrwellPrize2016 for journalism
7
33
73
At @TheOrwellPrize, we are hard at work to sustain this remarkable legacy. Through our Prizes, events and programmes, in partnership with @OrwellYouthPriz, we use Orwell's work to promote honest writing and reporting, uncover hidden lives and confront uncomfortable truths.
2
20
70
Ali Smith has been revealed as the winner of The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2021, for her quartet-concluding novel, 'Summer'. Smith spoke to Andrew Marr for this morning's @BBCRadio4 Start the Week. Listen back to the episode now on @bbcsounds:
0
31
75
Announcing the winner of The Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2024 - @matthewblongo for his book The Picnic [@TheBodleyHead]. Congratulations, Matthew!. With thanks to our judges @peterfrankopan, @sundersays, @christinalamb, @lola_seaton and @Silva, and prize sponsors @po_qu.
2
31
80
First up, “Britain’s Hidden Children’s Homes” from @BBCNewsnight was the first major piece of journalism to expose the growth of unregulated care homes and the dangers faced by teenagers placed in them by local authorities #OrwellPrize #Shortlist .
3
29
74
This week, we're showcasing the winners of the Orwell Prizes 2022, starting with our winners of the Orwell Journalism Prizes. First up, Ed Thomas, winner of the Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain's Social Evils, who spent months in Burnley witnessing the impact of the pandemic.
1
21
76
The Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2021 shortlist has just been revealed! The prize is for a work of non-fiction which best meets Orwell's own aim 'to make #politicalwriting into an art'. Huge thanks to our judges @anandMenon1, Richard Ekins, Rosemary Goring and Angela Saini.
5
23
69
As school returns across the UK we have teamed up with @picadorbooks to send Kate Clanchy's (@KateClanchy1) #orwellprize winning book 'Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me' to 75 important figures in education. Read about the campaign on our website:
4
30
73
"Few writers in British journalism have a style that says to you, whether or not you can read a byline: this is by me. Janice Turner does. Few make other journalists think – I wish I had written that. Janice Turner does." @VictoriaPeckham #orwellprize.
3
18
71
George Orwell (Eric Blair) was born #OTD 120 yrs ago in Motihari, then British India. The Orwell Archive here at @ucl will be celebrating the anniversary throughout the week, showcasing some exciting new acquisitions & the brilliant @OrwellYouthPriz. Use #Orwell120 to join us!
3
24
72
"This shortlist proves that excellent print and broadcast journalism lives on and continues to be a vital force in our democracy." - @y_alibhai. Congratulations to all the finalists for The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2023!
4
19
72
Tune into @BBCRadio4 right now to listen to #OrwellPrize winner Darren McGarvey (@lokiscottishrap) giving the 2022 Reith Lecture on 'Freedom from Want'.
2
29
67
"Political language – and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists – is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." - 'Politics and the English Language', 1946
2
24
74
Thanks again to @GeorgeMonbiot, Helen Hawkins, and everybody who joined us for our sell-out event on journalism, politics and the #climatecrisis last week! If you missed out on a ticket, you can watch the recording here:
2
24
58
Happy (75th) birthday #AnimalFarm! Orwell's satire of the Russian Revolution remains one of the greatest political works of the 20th century. In an exclusive short film, @djtaylorwriter and Orwell's son, Richard Blair, unpack the story behind the story:
7
45
63
Congratulations to the finalists for the inaugural Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness 2023! Spanning memoir, reporting, audio, academic research, stories of lived experience and more, together they tell a "shaming story about a crisis across the country." - @arusbridger
7
30
69
The Orwell Prize for Journalism is for the commentary and/or reportage which best meets Orwell's own ambition 'to make political writing into an art'. Congratulations to this year's shortlistees, and thank you to our judges @benfenton, @vanorissima, @GloriaDePiero and @mihirbose
12
28
66
Liam Thorp is shortlisted for The Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness 2024!. @LiamThorpECHO @LivEchonews . #OrwellPrizes2024. Read an extract on the @homelessimpact website:
4
16
61
Winston: "Does Big Brother exist?" O'Brien: "Of course he exists.".Winston: "Does he exist like you or me?" O'Brien: "You do not exist.”. Happy Monday to everyone but the 12% of you that do not exist.
2
6
60
What drove those behind the storming of the U.S. Capitol? Join @ggatehouse and @lucyproctor as they reflect upon their podcast ’The Coming Storm’, shortlisted for The Orwell Prize for Journalism 2022. Thursday 7 July - 6.30pm - London. Tickets:
0
19
64
Our panel for the #OrwellPrize for Reporting Homelessness 2023 has been revealed! @arusbridger, @johnbirdswords, @fairfaxleanna & @SangitaMyska are looking for writing and reporting shining a light on homelessness in *all* its forms. Read the full story:
4
12
60
"From a very early age. I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer. Between the ages of about 17 and 24 I tried to abandon this idea, but I did so with the consciousness that I was outraging my true nature.". George Orwell, born #onthisday in 1903.
3
27
58
This year's Orwell Prize for Journalism shortlist spans video reporting, podcast and immersive online work to illuminate the year's key political issues - and hold power to account. Our thanks to judges @TheCarrieGracie, @KamranAbbasi, @RosieBlau @iainmartin1 and @CliveMyrieBBC!
1
26
63
Congratulations to Joshua Yaffa (@yaffaesque), winner of The Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2021 for 'Between Two Fires: Truth, Ambition and Compromise in Putin's Russia' (@grantabooks). Yaffa's "haunting" book "illuminates the ways in which authoritarian rule is maintained."
3
18
61
We have just revealed the shortlist for the Orwell Prize for Journalism 2018! Congratulations @carolecadwalla, Edward Carr, Sam Knight, @A_Loyd_Times, @hackneylad and @VictoriaPeckham! Check out their portfolios at #OrwellPrize2018
5
18
58
1
9
60
"I simply hadn't a book in me, but I was half starved and had to turn out something to bring in £100 or so." George Orwell's third novel, 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying', was published on this day in 1936. Orwell, always his own fiercest critic, didn't want the book republished.
4
10
57
“It's inspiring to see so many reporters using clear, brave writing to expose injustices.” – Dr Matt Walsh, Chair of Judges. Congratulations to the finalists for the Orwell Prize for Journalism 2025. Explore their work: #OrwellPrize2025
9
29
72