Women's Prize for Fiction 2010: Complete list of winners

The 2010 Women’s Prize for Fiction crowned Barbara Kingsolver’s sweeping novel The Lacuna as its winner, affirming the award’s reputation for recognizing ambitious, beautifully crafted storytelling from women writers. Kingsolver’s novel—a richly layered narrative spanning decades and continents, weaving together art, history, and the Mexican Revolution—represented exactly the kind of literary accomplishment the prize had championed since its inception in 1996. The Women’s Prize for Fiction, originally established to honor the most outstanding work of fiction written in English by a woman, has long served as a counterbalance to other major awards and a celebration of women’s voices in literature.

What made Kingsolver’s win particularly resonant was the novel’s ambitious scope and meticulous craftsmanship. The Lacuna demanded much of its readers—moving fluidly between time periods, shifting narrative perspectives, and drawing inspiration from real historical figures and events—yet it found its audience among both critics and the award’s judges. This victory underscored the Women’s Prize for Fiction’s commitment to recognizing not just commercial success but literary daring, even when that daring came wrapped in a multigenerational family saga. For those following the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2010 or exploring the award’s evolving track record, Kingsolver’s selection stood as a reminder of how the prize continues to celebrate complex, intellectually rigorous narratives from women writers.

Below you’ll find the complete details about this year’s honoree and her remarkable achievement.

Fiction

• The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver