Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, was named Book of the Year at the British Book Awards in London on Monday night, per bbc.com.
The work, co-authored with Amy Wallace, details Giuffre’s experiences with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Published six months after Giuffre took her own life, the memoir also secured the non-fiction narrative prize and the freedom to publish award.
The ceremony, held at Grosvenor House and hosted by Steph McGovern, celebrated the book’s significant cultural and legal impact. *Nobody’s Girl* featured allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, which he has consistently denied. The publication last October is credited with increasing the pressure that led King Charles III to strip his brother of his royal titles and honours.
Accepting the award via video, Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, described the book as a testament to the power of a survivor’s voice. Sky Roberts, Virginia’s brother, said the family was honoured to accept the accolade on her behalf. Alice O’Keeffe, chair of the judges, praised the “extraordinary courage” of the late author and the sensitivity of the publisher’s campaign.
The event, colloquially known as the “Nibbies”, also issued a special posthumous award to Dame Jilly Cooper, Joanna Trollope, and Sophie Kinsella. Other notable winners included AF Steadman as author of the year and Suzanne Collins, who won the children’s fiction category for her *Hunger Games* prequel, *Sunrise on the Reaping*.
Sarah Wynn-Williams shared the freedom to publish award with Giuffre for her non-fiction audiobook *Careless People*. The account of her time as a director at Facebook made headlines after the social media platform blocked her from promoting the title. Philip Jones, editor of *The Bookseller*, noted that both winning stories represented “silenced voices” standing up for the truth.
The British Book Awards, or the Nibbies, are the UK book industry’s leading accolades, recognising editorial excellence and commercial success. This year’s ceremony was particularly poignant, highlighting several high-profile posthumous releases that have shaped public discourse over the past 12 months.
•Featured image: Virginia Giuffre/Getty Images
