Year: 1986

Judges

Anthony Thwaite (chair)
Edna Healey
Isabel Quigley
Gillian Reynolds
Bernice Rubens

Books

An Artist of the Floating World

Shortlisted

'An Artist of the Floating World' by Kazuo Ishiguro

Gabriel's Lament

Shortlisted

'Gabriel's Lament' by Paul Bailey

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood

Shortlisted

'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood

An Insular Possession

Shortlisted

'An Insular Possession' by Timothy Mo

The Old Devils

Winner

'The Old Devils' by Kingsley Amis

What's Bred in the Bone

Robertson Davies

Shortlisted

'What's Bred in the Bone' by Robertson Davies