Los Angeles Times journalist Barbara Demick has won the 2010 BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction with her title Nothing to Envy.
Sponsored by the BBC, the prize aims to reward the best of non-fiction and is open to authors of all non-fiction books in the areas of current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography and the arts.
Nothing to Envy presents a groundbreaking view into the lives of six ordinary citizens of Chongin, North Korea. Using extensive interviews with defectors and tenacious investigative work, Demick weaves a gripping narrative which reveals the inner workings of this extraordinary and secretive country.
Evan Davis, chair of the judges and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today commented:
"It is the personal detail in Nothing to Envy that makes it both gripping and moving. Nowhere will you find a better account of real life in North Korea, a society that is all too easily comically typecast by massive parades of co-ordinated flag-wavers... it is a real testament to Demick's writing that a book on such a grim topic can be so hard to put down."
Demick wins the coveted award and £20,000 first prize with the remaining five shortlisted authors receiving £1,000 each.
You can buy Nothing to Envy as part of our online 3 for 2 mix and match offer. To view a full list of 3 for 2 collections, click here.
The Winner
The Shortlist
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