The Story Of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel has been named the Waterstones Book Of The Year 2022. The non-fiction book, described as a "feast for the eyes", overturns the reader’s sense of art history and challenges the narrative.
Hessel is an art historian, presenter and curator dedicated to celebrating female artists and has founded The Great Women Artists and a podcast of the same name. She fought off competition from nine shortlisted titles who were vying for the accolade, which is awarded annually to a book published in the previous 12 months and is voted for by a panel of Waterstones booksellers.
Kate Skipper, Waterstones chief operating officer, said: "Our booksellers championed The Story of Art Without Men from the start. It is a must-have for any booklover’s shelf, as essential as it is enjoyable. Written with wit and ease, the resulting book, packed full of beautiful illustrations, can be devoured in one sitting or dipped into at a whim.
