Judges announce the shortlist for the Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award2026
The judging panel for the Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award, given annually for a book in English inspired by Greek culture and history, has agreed the shortlist for the 40th anniversary 2026 competition.
From their long list of 20 books announced in January, the judges have selected seven for their shortlist.
Sofka Zinovieff, Chair of judges, said:
“The judges are delighted that this year’s shortlist comprises seven works of outstanding quality across a wide range of genres. Together they embrace three millennia of Hellenic experience, and exemplify the enduring impact of Greek poetry, fiction, history and philosophy from Homer to the contemporary.”
The shortlist is below.
The Award Ceremony for the Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award 2026 will be held in the Great Hall of King’s College London and streamed live online on Tuesday 9 June 2026, at 7pm. The guest lecturer will be author and screen writer Kallia Papadaki. Tickets for the event can be obtained from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986992021625?aff=oddtdtcreator
The Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award is sponsored by the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation and the A.G. Leventis Foundation. The winner receives a prize of £10,000.
THE ANGLO-HELLENIC LEAGUE RUNCIMAN AWARD 2026 SHORTLIST
Joshua Barley (tr.), Athens Tales (Oxford University Press)
Agnes Callard, Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life (Penguin)
Julian Hoffman, Lifelines: Searching for Home in the Mountains of Greece (Elliot and Thompson)
Peter Jeffreys & Gregory Jusdanis, Alexandrian Sphinx: The Hidden Life of Constantine Cavafy (Simon and Schuster)
Daniel Mendelsohn (tr.), Homer, The Odyssey (Chicago University Press)
Hugo Shakeshaft, Beauty and the Gods: A History from Homer to Plato (Princeton University Press)
Brian Sneeden (tr.), Phoebe Giannisi, Goatsong (Fitzcarraldo)