The Whitbread Awards (1971–2005), called Costa Book Awards since 2006, are literary awards in the United Kingdom, awarded both for high literary merit but also for works considered enjoyable reading. This page gives details of the awards given in the year 1998.
Book of the Year
- Ted Hughes, Birthday Letters
Children's Book
Winner:
- David Almond, Skellig
Shortlist:
- Robert Swindells, Abomination
- J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- James Riordan, Sweet Clarinet
First Novel
Winner:
Shortlist:
- Gavin Kramer, Shopping
- Magnus Mills, The Restraint of Beasts
- Luke Sutherland, Jelly Roll
Novel
Winner:
- Justin Cartwright, Leading the Cheers
Shortlist:
- Ronan Bennett, the catastrophist
- Barbara Trapido, The Travelling Hornplayer
Biography
Winner:
- Amanda Foreman, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire
Shortlist:
- John Bayley, Iris, A memoir of Iris Murdoch
- Ian Kershaw, Hitler, Volume One Hubris 1889–1936
Poetry
Winner:
Shortlist:
- Philip Gross, The Wasting Game
- Paul Farley, The Boy from the Chemist is Here to See you