The Whitbread Awards (since 2006 called the Costa Book Awards) are among the United Kingdom's most prestigious literary awards. They were launched in 1971, are given both for high literary merit but also for works that are enjoyable reading and whose aim is to convey the enjoyment of reading to the widest possible audience. This page gives details of the awards given in the year 1982.

Children's Book

Winner:

• W J Corbett, The Song of Pentecost

First Novel

Winner:

• Bruce Chatwin, On the Black Hill

Novel

Winner:

• John Wain, Young Shoulders

Biography

Winner:

• Edward Crankshaw, Bismarck