Helen Garner has won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2025 with her book How to End a Story: Collected Diaries, marking the first time the prize has been awarded to a diary. The announcement was made by Chair of Judges Robbie Millen at a ceremony in London.
Garner, one of Australia's most celebrated writers, receives £50,000 for her win. The judges described the book as 'remarkable, addictive' and 'recklessly candid', praising Garner's ability to mix the intimate, intellectual, and everyday. Millen noted that the diaries offer 'a fascinating insight into the creative reality of a writer's life'.
The volume covers Garner's life from the 1970s to the 1990s, including her early career in bohemian Melbourne, a passionate love affair, and the breakdown of a marriage. The judges highlighted her 'devastating honesty' and 'steel-sharp wit'.
The prize, open to authors of any nationality, was selected from over 350 books. The judging panel included historians, journalists, and previous prize winners.
