Since the creation of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901 numerous awards have been established that recognize the work of novelists across a range of genres. From psychological thrillers to tales of bravery and love, these prize-winning books include criminal activities, political commentary and flights of fantasy, with each one captivating readers around the world and proving irresistible as a source of material for film makers. A wider selection can be found on our website.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, 1938
The gothic tale of young, naïve Mrs de Winter arriving at Manderley only to discover her marital home and new husband are haunted by the memory of his late wife was voted the favourite novel of 1938 in the American National Book Awards and has never been out of print. Following a change in the plot to make the storyline meet Hollywood’s production code, the film secured Alfred Hitchcock Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 1940, and a 2020 adaptation brought to the story to a new generation.
Animal Farm by George Orwell, 1945
Written over the winter of 1943/44, Orwell’s allegory of the Russian Revolution wasn’t published until August 1945, when the Allied relationship with the Soviets was beginning to cool. Repeatedly applauded in some circles and banned in others, it was given a Retrospective Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1996 and the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award in 2011, and while two animated films have been made – in 1954 and 2025 – a 1999 version for the small screen was made using animatronics from the Jim Henson Creature Shop and live creatures.
The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, 1955
The first of five books featuring conman Tom Ripley sees him travel to Italy to track down the errant Dickie Greenleaf, whose luxurious lifestyle sparks a dark jealousy and obsession in Ripley that soon turns sinister. Achieving the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel in 1956 and the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière for Best International Crime Novel a year later, it was filmed in 1960 in French before a 1999 English-language version was released starring Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, 1957
Owing to Pasternak’s political views his manuscript telling of Yuri and Lara’s love, set against the tumultuous events of the USSR in the early 20th century, was smuggled to Italy for publication in 1957. The author was chosen for the Nobel Prize for Literature the following year but under pressure from the Soviet authorities renounced the award. Since then his novel has found a place on the Russian curriculum and was adapted for the big screen in 1966, with Omar Sharif and Julie Christie headlining.
Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally, 1982
The actions of Oskar Schindler saved the lives of 1,200 Jewish people during the Holocaust and formed the basis for Thomas Keneally’s 1982 Booker Prize-winning novel. When it was released as a film in 1993 with Liam Neeson as the lead it took the American title, Schindler’s List, and despite academic criticism found box office success and a string of awards, including best director for Steven Speilberg at the Baftas, Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, 1995
Little did Lyra Belacqua know when she set off to find a friend kidnapped by the ‘Gobblers’ that she was embarking on a venture that would take her into parallel worlds and an epic battle with the ruling theocracy. The opening volume of Philip Pullman’s trilogy, Northern Lights was awarded the Carnegie Medal in 1995 and filmed for cinema as The Golden Compass in 2007 before being serialized by the BBC in 2019.
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, 1996
Chuck Palahniuk’s exploration of psychological breakdown, therapy, isolation and capitalism received widespread critical acclaim and in 1997 won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award and the Oregon Book Award for Best Novel. Just two years later it was adapted for film with Brad Pitt taking the part of the unnamed narrator opposite Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel, 2001
The allegorical tale of a young boy adrift on the ocean with four wild animals, including a Royal Bengal tiger, became an international bestseller and won the Booker Prize in 2002. A decade after the novel’s publication the film version received prizes including Academy Awards for director Ang Lee and cinematographer Claudio Miranda and a series of accolades for the Visual Effects team that brought the fantastical elements of the story to life.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, 2005–07
In 2006 the prestigious Glass Key Award for the best Nordic crime novel was given posthumously to Stieg Larsson for the opening book of his Millennium Trilogy, prompting the translation of the psychological thriller into a multitude of languages. After being adapted for film in 2009 in Sweden it was taken up by Hollywood in 2011 with the lead roles going to Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy, 2006
Cormac McCarthy’s acclaimed tale of a father and son scavenging their way across a post-apocalyptic America in the hope of finding sanctuary on the coast was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 2006 and the Pulitzer in 2007. Two years later the horror-stricken journey was portrayed on screen by Viggo Mortensen and a young Kodi Smit-McPhee, both of whom won international recognition for their roles.
