Giller Prize 1996: Complete list of winners

The 1996 Giller Prize crowned Margaret Atwood’s “Alias Grace” as the year’s most distinguished work of Canadian fiction, cementing the award’s reputation as one of the country’s most prestigious literary honors. Atwood’s haunting novel, which reimagines the true story of a nineteenth-century housemaid convicted of murder, demonstrated the kind of literary ambition and historical imagination that the Giller Prize has consistently championed since its establishment in 1994. The award, named after philanthropist Avie Giller, quickly became essential reading for anyone tracking Canada’s literary landscape—and this particular win underscored how the prize was already attracting the country’s most celebrated writers.

What made Atwood’s victory especially significant was the author’s established stature in the literary world. By 1996, she was already known for her powerful explorations of power, gender, and identity, and “Alias Grace” added another layer of sophistication to her oeuvre with its intricate narrative structure and unreliable narrator. The novel’s blend of historical fiction with psychological complexity represented exactly the kind of ambitious storytelling the Giller Prize aimed to recognize and reward. As the Giller Prize continues to shine a spotlight on Canadian fiction year after year, this inaugural period proved the award’s ability to validate and elevate truly exceptional work.

Below you’ll find the complete details of the 1996 Giller Prize winners.

Fiction

• Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood