Year: 1979

Judges

• Lord Briggs (chair)
• Benny Green
• Michael Ratcliffe
• Hilary Spurling
• Paul Theroux

Books

A Bend in the River

V. S. Naipaul

Shortlisted

Confederates

Thomas Keneally

Shortlisted

Joseph

Julian Rathbone

Shortlisted

Offshore

Penelope Fitzgerald

Winner

Praxis

Fay Weldon

Shortlisted