Costa Book Awards 1993: Complete list of winners

The 1993 Costa Book Awards showcased a remarkable range of British and Commonwealth literature, from debut novelists making their mark to celebrated poets reaching new heights. Andrew Motion’s biography Philip Larkin: A Writer’s Life earned recognition in the biography category, while Carol Ann Duffy’s collection Mean Time claimed the poetry prize, cementing her place among contemporary verse’s most significant voices. Perhaps most striking was the strength of debut fiction that year, with Rachel Cusk’s Saving Agnes winning the first novel award—a bold introduction from a writer who would go on to define her generation.

The Costa Book Awards, formerly known as the Whitbread Book Awards, have long been Britain’s People’s Prize, celebrated for championing accessible, beautifully written literature across multiple categories. The 1993 winners demonstrated this range perfectly: Joan Brady’s ambitious novel Theory of War competed alongside Anne Fine’s beloved children’s book Flour Babies, which brought the wit and emotional insight of young adult literature into sharp focus. Together, these five winners represented the breadth of literary achievement the awards have always sought to recognize—from experimental fiction to engaging narratives for younger readers.

Below, you’ll find the complete breakdown of the 1993 Costa Book Awards winners across all categories.

Biography

• Philip Larkin: A Writer’s Life by Andrew Motion

Children’s Book

• Flour Babies by Anne Fine

First Novel

• Saving Agnes by Rachel Cusk

Novel

• Theory of War by Joan Brady

Poetry

• Mean Time by Carol Ann Duffy