With over 40 readers writing nearly 350 reviews between them and another record breaking number of entries for this year’s annual Holyer an Gof Awards it was never going to be easy selecting the nominations for Cornwall’s best, recently published, books.
“It’s so gratifying to see our panel of readers, Bards of Gorsedh Kernow and others with specialist subject knowledge, carefully reviewing all the books and agreeing the final shortlist,” said the Grand Bard of Cornwall, Maureen Fuller, “and the range of nominees, announced today, reflects not only the immense attraction that our beloved Cornwall continues to have for publishers, writers and illustrators but also just how popular these Awards are.”
Promoted annually by Gorsedh Kernow for publications relating to Cornwall or the Cornish language, Holyer An Gof has become a model for Cornish awards and Gorsedh Kernow is very pleased to encourage all supporters of Cornish publishing.
Holyer an Gof reviewers select books to read for the 2015 Awards
“Over the years we have shown our on-going commitment to publishing,” said Holyer an Gof co-organiser Rael Harvey, “and we are delighted that the Gorsedh Kernow Holyer an Gof Awards continue to attract entries from smaller, niche publishing businesses right through to some of the more familiar names in the publishing world.”
“These Awards have become an important and much-anticipated annual event,” said Grand Bard Maureen Fuller, “and we look forward immensely to announcing the winners at our prestigious Awards ceremony in July at Waterstones of Truro.”
The nominations for the 2015 Gorsedh Kernow Holyer an Gof annual Awards are:
Class 1.0 – Cornish Language books for teaching
An English-Cornish Dictionary by Frederick W. P. Jago, Cambridge University Press reissue: initially published by Simkin, Marshall & Co and W.H. Luke.
Geryow Gwir: The Lexicon of Revised Cornish by Nicholas Williams, published by Evertype.
Holyewgh an Lergh – Book II by Graham Sandercock, published by Kesva an Taves Kernewek.
Class 1.1 – Cornish language books for children
Alys y’n Vro a Varthusyon ha Der an Gweder-Mires by A.A. Milne (Translated by Ray Edwards & Tony Hak), published by Kesva an Taves Kernewek.
Briallen ha’n Alyon by Steve Harris, published by Ors Sempel.
Class 1.2 – Cornish language books for adults
An Hobys, po An Fordh Dy ha Tre Arta by J.R.R. Tolkien (Translated by Nicholas Williams), published by Evertype.
Tintin: An Ynys Dhu by Herge (Translated by Mark Trevethan), published by Dalen Kernow.
Tredden in Scath (Heb Gwil Mencyon a’n Ky) by Jerome K. Jerome (Translated by Nicholas Williams), published by Evertype.
Classes 2.0 & 2.1 – Books for children of primary age and books for young adults
A-Z of Cornwall Series of 6 books – What we love about Cornwall by Redruth School – Year 7 pupils, published by Redruth School / St Austell Printing Co.
Percy Pengelly and the wibble-wobble by Jenny Steele Scolding & Andy McPherson, published by Serpentine Design.
The Golden Sword – The Camelot Inheritance Book 1 by Rosie Morgan, published by Rosie Morgan.
The Time Smugglers – The Camelot Inheritance Book 2 by Rosie Morgan, published by Rosie Morgan.
Class 3 – Adult Fiction
Exposed to All Villainies by S J Haxton, published by Boswell Book Publishing.
Nasty Pasty by Jon Cleave, published by Jon Cleave.
The Returning Tide by Julia Sokota, published by Matador.
Class 5 – Non Fiction – History, Language and Creative Arts
An Introduction to the Laws of the Duchy of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, and Devon by John Kirkhope, published by Evertype.
Free Spirits – Jane & Tony O’Malley by Marion Whybrow, published by The St Ives Printing & Publishing Co.
Rising Ground: A Search for the Spirit of Place by Philip Marsden, published by Granta Publications (Granta books).
The Other Side of Eden by Jonathan Ball, published by Footsteps Press.
Class 5.1 – Non Fiction – Marine, Industrial Heritage and Environment
Remains of the Pilchard Fishing Industry of St Ives and West Cornwall by John Ferguson (Dr.), published by St Ives Archive.
The Cornish Fishing Industry by John McWilliams, published by Amberley Publishing.
The Maritime History of Cornwall by Philip Payton, Alston Kennerley & Helen Doe, published by University of Exeter Press.
Class 5.2 – Non Fiction in which illustrations predominate
A Cornish Pomona by James Evans & Mary Martin, published by James Evans & Mary Martin.
Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture, XI, Early Cornish Sculpture by Ann Preston-Jones & Elisabeth Okasha, published by Oxford University Press/British Academy.
Heligan History Centenary Edition – Remembering Lost Men by Candy Smit, published by Heligan Gardens Ltd.
Salt of the Earth by David & Jan Penprase, published by D & J Publishing.
Class 6 – Booklets
Bal Maidens of the St Just Peninsula by Lynne Mayers, published by Blaize Bailey Books.
Mazed Tales (Traditional Tales from South East Cornwall) by Anna Chorlton, published by Tyskennow Kernow.
The Journal of the St Agnes Museum Trust no 19 edited by Peter Thomas, published by St Agnes Museum Trust.
For further information about the Gorsedh Kernow Holyer an Gof Publishers’ Awards please contact Rael Harvey, via email enquiries@holyerangofawards.org.uk
For general information about Gorsedh Kernow please contact Delia Brotherton, Gorsedh Kernow Communications Officer via email communications@gorsedhkernow.org.uk
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The Holyer an Gof Publishers’ Awards are promoted annually by Gorsedh Kernow for publications relating to Cornwall or the Cornish Language and were launched in 1996 in memory of Redruth Publisher and Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh, Leonard Truran, whose bardic name was Holyer an Gof – Follower of The Smith. The awards were established and organised by members of Gorsedh Kernow to raise the standard and profile of publishing in Cornwall.
The panel of reader reviewers mainly comprises members of the Gorsedh Kernow College of Bards and others with particular expertise.
Details of all the entries for 2015 can be found on the Holyer an Gof website www.holyerangofawards.org.uk
The Holyer an Gof Trophy, presented by the late Joan Truran, is perpetual and awarded for the most outstanding entry in the whole competition.
The Waterstones Award is selected and awarded by the Manager and Staff of Waterstones Truro who also sponsor the Awards Evening.
In addition to the Holyer an Gof Trophy and the Waterstones Award, the Cornish Literary Guild will present a second perpetual award, The Literary Salver, to an author of their choice. Nominations for this award are made by the panel of readers and a winner is chosen by members of the Cornish Literary Guild.
Winning entries in each category will be announced and prizes awarded at a special Presentation evening at Waterstones in Truro, with each category winner receiving a certificate from Gorsedh Kernow. The winner of the Holyer an Gof Trophy will also receive a £100 donation to the Cornish charity of their choice.
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