Awards for "The Poison Principle"

The Poison Principle was shortlisted (in a field of 5) for Adult Audio Book of the Year 2002.
Prize won by Robert Dessaix.
____________________________________________________________________

Shortlisted for the Courier-Mail Book of the Year Award 2001
160 entries, 6 short-listed

Winner, announced October 2001: jointly awarded to Peter Carey & Alan Gould

Judges comments on "The Poison Principle": "Fascinatingly macabre. A great subject embedded in the narrative. With her expert knowledge and eye for telling details, Bell has created a most unusual book from her extraordinary family history."
____________________________________________________________________

Shortlisted for Ned Kelly Award for Best Non-Fiction True Crime 2002
Winner announced August 2002: Best True Crime Prize 2002 won jointly by Larry Writer & Mike Richards
____________________________________________________________________

Winner of the N.S.W. Premier's Prize for Non-Fiction 2002
125 entries, 6 short-listed

Douglas Stewart Prize awarded to The Poison Principle

Announced 27 May 2002

"The Douglas Stewart Prize ($20,000) is for prose work other than a work of fiction. Books including biographies, autobiographies and works of history, philosophy and literary criticism may be nominated."

Judges Comments: "Some of the most welcome non-fiction books of recent years have made scientific knowledge available to a wide audience in a way that is neither simplistic nor arcane. Gail Bell's The Poison Principle certainly does this. Bell has a background in pharmacology which enables her to dwell on the subtle workings of cyanide, arsenic, opium, mercury, belladonna, henbane, nightshade, aconite and a few other household items beside. But she also investigates the cultural significance of poison, extending her interest from Cleopatra to Snow White, from Napoleon to Keats. Few writers have the skill necessary to weave a narrative from such a variety of sources. Bell does this with elegance, wisdom and compassion. The motive underlying her work is to understand an old family mystery: the apparent poisoning by her grandfather of two of his sons. This book brings together a personal story with matters of universal fascination. Bell's writing is deft, subtle and intricate. She has the discipline of a story-teller and her readers will go home with shopping bags full of the most remarkable information. They will have thought about the difficulties inherent in poisoning an elephant."