The biography John Craxton: A Life of Gifts, written by Ian Collins and published by Yale University Press, has won the 2022 Runciman Award.
Professor Peter Frankopan, chairman of the judges, hailed a book that is “incredibly original, highly readable, beautifully researched and wonderfully written”.
Ian Collins received the award from HRH Prince Michael of Kent at a well-attended ceremony hosted by the Anglo-Hellenic League in King’s College, London. In his acceptance speech, the author said that, given the close friendship between artist John Craxton and scholar Sir Stephen Runciman, the prize was a matchless honour.
Launched in May 2021, A Life of Gifts has nearly sold out in its second edition. Yale will publish a paperback in the New Year.
A Greek edition is now available from Patakis Publishing and a Turkish version will be launched in the spring.