Giller Prize 2018: Complete list of winners

Canada’s most prestigious literary award came to Esi Edugyan in 2018 when Washington Black claimed the Giller Prize for Fiction. The novel, which follows a young enslaved boy who escapes a Barbadian plantation and embarks on a extraordinary journey across the globe, represents exactly the kind of ambitious, beautifully crafted storytelling the Giller Prize has championed since its inception in 1994. Edugyan’s win was a landmark moment—her rich exploration of identity, freedom, and belonging resonated deeply with the award’s jury, solidifying her place among Canada’s most vital contemporary voices.

The 2018 Giller Prize announcement underscored how the award continues to elevate literary fiction that pushes boundaries and expands what stories deserve our attention. Washington Black is a historical novel that refuses to be confined by genre conventions, moving between bildungsroman, adventure narrative, and intimate character study with remarkable grace. The book had already garnered significant critical acclaim before the Giller recognition, but the prize’s spotlight elevated it further into the cultural conversation, introducing Edugyan’s intricate prose to readers who might otherwise have missed this exceptional work.

For those following the Canadian literary awards landscape, the Giller Prize remains the gold standard—a testament to the country’s commitment to celebrating fiction that matters. Here’s what made the 2018 winner so special:

Fiction

• Washington Black by Esi Edugyan