Giller Prize 1998: Complete list of winners

Alice Munro’s The Love of a Good Woman claimed the 1998 Giller Prize for fiction, cementing the Canadian literary icon’s reputation as one of the finest short story writers of our time. The collection showcases Munro’s signature style—deeply layered narratives that excavate the emotional complexities lurking beneath ordinary Canadian life. Her ability to pack profound psychological insight into deceptively simple domestic scenarios has made her a perennial favorite with Giller judges, and this particular collection demonstrated why her work continues to resonate with readers and critics alike.

The Giller Prize, established in 1994 to honor the best Canadian fiction published in English, remains one of the country’s most prestigious literary awards. By 1998, it had already become a bellwether for identifying which Canadian authors would achieve lasting significance on the international stage. Munro’s win that year was particularly significant given the strength of Canadian publishing at the moment and the caliber of writers competing for recognition.

The shortlist and winner below offer a snapshot of the literary landscape in late-1990s Canada, when the Giller Prize was helping to establish itself as an essential institution for Canadian letters.

Fiction

• The Love of a Good Woman by Alice Munro