Adam LeBor and Justin Marozzi longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2025

We are pleased to announce that Adam LeBor and Justin Marozzi have been longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2025!

Adam LeBor has been longlisted for his book The Last Days of Budapest: Spies, Nazis, Rescuers and Resistance, 1940–1945, which was published by Apollo, an imprint of Head of Zeus, in January of this year.

Justin Marozzi has been longlisted for his book Captives and Companions: A History of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Islamic World, which was published by Allen Lane this July.

The Baillie Gifford Prize rewards excellence in non-fiction writing, bringing the best in intelligent reflection on the world to new readers. It covers all non-fiction in the areas of current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography and the arts. We celebrate the best in contemporary non-fiction writing as we believe all the best stories are true.

The longlist of 12 books were chosen by this year’s judging panel: Robbie Millen, literary editor of The Times and The Sunday Times (chair); historian and author, Pratinav Anil; journalist and broadcaster, Inaya Folarin Iman; cultural historian, biographer and novelist, and previous winner of the prize, Lucy Hughes-Hallett; deputy culture editor of The Economist, Rachel Lloyd; and author and biographer, Peter Parker.

Their selection was made from over 350 books published between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025.

The shortlist will be announced on the 2nd October, and the winner on the 4th November.