Costa Book Awards 1972: Complete list of winners

The 1972 Costa Book Awards showcased the remarkable range of contemporary British publishing, honoring three distinctly different works that captured the imagination of readers and judges alike. James Pope-Hennessy’s meticulously researched biography Anthony Trollope won in the Biography category, bringing fresh insight to the Victorian novelist’s life and legacy. Meanwhile, Rumer Godden claimed the Children’s Book prize with The Diddakoi, a story that would resonate with young readers for generations to come, while Susan Hill’s haunting novel The Bird of Night proved that literary fiction could be both intellectually rigorous and deeply moving. This year’s winners demonstrated the Costa Book Awards’ commitment to recognizing excellence across genres—a tradition that has made the award one of Britain’s most prestigious and popular literary honors since its inception.

These three very different books shared a common thread of sophisticated storytelling and emotional depth that defined some of the finest writing of the era. Below, you’ll find more detailed information about each winner and what made them stand out in such a competitive year.

Biography

• Anthony Trollope by James Pope-Hennessy

Children’s Book

• The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden

Novel

• The Bird of Night by Susan Hill