Importance Score: 50 / 100 🔵
Alexei Navalny Honored Posthumously at British Book Awards
The late Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition figure and anti-corruption advocate who passed away in a penal colony in February of last year at age 47, was recognized posthumously with the esteemed Book of the Year 2025 at the British Book Awards. His memoir, “Patriot,” released in October, also received the Non-Fiction: Narrative award at the 35th ‘Nibbies’ during a distinguished ceremony held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. The book surpassed works by Boris Johnson, Gillian Anderson, and Sir Chris Hoy.
Widow’s Heartfelt Response
Julia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, expressed her gratitude: “I wish to sincerely thank you for this incredible acknowledgment. Learning that ‘Patriot’ had garnered both the Non-fiction: Narrative award and the Overall Book of the Year title left us feeling deeply moved. It is challenging to articulate what this signifies, not only for me and those instrumental in bringing this book to fruition, but also for the memory of the man behind it. I appreciate this honor.”
Other Notable Award Recipients
The British Book Awards also celebrated other literary achievements:
- Percival Everett, an American author, was named Author of the Year and also won Fiction Book of the Year for “James,” a reimagining of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of Jim.
- Asako Yuzuki, a Japanese writer, secured the Debut Fiction Book of the Year award for her international bestseller, “Butter.”
- Abir Mukherjee, recognized for the historical Wyndham & Banerjee crime series situated in 1920s colonial India, won Crime & Thriller of the year for his standalone thriller “Hunted,” surpassing Richard Osman and Channel 4’s Countdown presenter Susie Dent.
Non-Fiction and Lifestyle Recognition
Stanley Tucci, the US actor, took home the Non-fiction lifestyle book of the year award for his memoir, “What I Ate In One Year,” which chronicled his reflections and meals during the Hollywood writers’ strike in 2023. Other notable awards included:
- Marian Keyes
- Kate Mosse
- Julia Donaldson
- Illustrator Rob Biddulph
- Saara El-Arifi, whose romantasy bestseller “Faebound” secured the Pageturner Book of the Year award.
Margaret Atwood Receives Freedom to Publish Award
Margaret Atwood, the Canadian author, was announced as the fourth recipient of the British Book Awards: Freedom to Publish Award. In a video message, Atwood touched upon the threats to freedom of speech and expression, stating, “I cannot recall a period in my life when words have felt so endangered. Political and religious polarization, which appeared to be diminishing during parts of the 20th century, has significantly increased in the past decade. The world, to me, feels more akin to the 1930s and 40s than it has in the last 80 years.”
Previous Honorees
Past recipients include Georgian-Russian author Boris Akunin and Booker Prize-winning novelist Salman Rushdie.
Reflections on the Awards
Philip Jones, chair of The British Book Awards, remarked: “The 35th year of these marvelous awards was the best yet, intertwining politics with pluralism, joy with optimism. Our winners – including Percival Everett, Kate Mosse, Rob Biddulph, Julia Donaldson, Waterstones, and Bloomsbury – exemplify the great strengths of this industry: Excellence, Fortitude, Imagination, Defiance, Longevity, and Ingenuity. This is a profession that champions reading and its societal value, and for three decades, The British Book Awards has supported it. The challenges we encounter – from artificial intelligence to authoritarianism – are intensifying, but we stand united in our unwavering commitment to this purpose.”
Alice O’Keeffe, books editor of “The Bookseller” and overall chair of the Books of the Year, commented: “This year’s judges brought their expertise to the table when deciding The 2025 British Book Awards recipients. They are remarkable, from a bestselling Japanese novel in translation to a genre-defining British fantasy, from historical fiction hailed as a classic to a brave memoir. We are confident that many of our selected books will remain relevant for years to come and are delighted to celebrate them.”