The Baillie Gifford 2019 Shortlist + Winner Prediction

TL;DR

Olive discusses her thoughts on the shortlisted books for the Bailey Gifford Prize for Nonfiction 2019 and predicts the winner based on current societal trends.

Transcript

hi guys olive here here today to talk to you about the Bailey gifford prize for nonfiction 20:19 shortlist the winner of the Bailey gifford prize is going to be announced this upcoming Tuesday November 19th so before that happens I thought I would sit down and speak to you about the shortlist and maybe make a prediction about which book I think is ... Read More

Key Insights

• 📔 The shortlisted books for the Bailey Gifford Prize for Nonfiction 2019 cover a diverse range of topics, including the victims of Jack the Ripper, a murderous Reverend, and an identity quest.
• ❓ "The Five" challenges common misconceptions about Jack the Ripper's victims and critiques society's obsession with the killer.
• 🥳 "Furious Hours" is a unique narrative split into three parts, featuring a Reverend's crimes, his shooter, and Harper Lee's involvement.
• 👪 "On Chapel Sands" combines a cozy non-murder mystery with a memoir-style exploration of family secrets and identity.
• 😉 Olive predicts "The Five" will win the prize due to its relevance to current discussions on victims reclaiming their narrative and its overall quality.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the common misconceptions about Jack the Ripper's victims addressed in "The Five"?

"The Five" challenges the belief that all of the victims were prostitutes, highlighting the faulty logic behind this conclusion and the societal judgment and conflation of fallen women with broken women.

Q: How does "Furious Hours" differ in structure and style between its three parts?

"Furious Hours" is divided into three acts, with the first part focusing on a murderous Reverend, the second on his shooter and the courtroom drama, and the third on Harper Lee's pursuit of writing a true crime book. Each part feels somewhat disconnected but adds depth to the overall story.

Q: What makes "On Chapel Sands" unique and enjoyable?

"On Chapel Sands" is a pseudo-memoir that combines elements of a cozy mystery with a quest to uncover family secrets. While the first half sets up the background, the second half becomes unputdownable as secrets start unraveling.

Q: Based on societal trends, why does Olive predict that "The Five" will win the Bailey Gifford Prize?

Olive believes that book prizes are often awarded to books that reflect current topics of discussion. As the theme of victims reclaiming their narrative is prominent now, "The Five" addresses this topic effectively and is well-written, making it a strong contender for the prize.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The shortlist for the 2019 Bailey Gifford Prize for Nonfiction includes six books, three of which Olive has read and highly recommends.

• "The Five" by Hallie Rubenhold challenges the commonly held belief that Jack the Ripper's victims were all prostitutes, providing a detailed account of their lives and critiquing society's fascination with the killer.

• "Furious Hours" by Casey Cep is a three-part story about a murderous Reverend, his shooter, and Harper Lee's attempt to write a true crime book about the case.

• "On Chapel Sands" by Laura Cumming tells the author's mother's story of being abducted as a child and her quest to uncover her true identity.