Congratulations to Professor Charlotte Macdonald, whose book Garrison World: Redcoat Soldiers in New Zealand and across the British Empire has been shortlisted for the Bookhub Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction in the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2026.
A major work by a distinguished historian, Garrison World examines the lives of soldiers and families constituting the British military presence in New Zealand and other territories during the nineteenth century. The judges write:
'Extensively researched, impeccably written and richly illustrated, Charlotte Macdonald’s compelling narratives reconstruct the stories of people shipped to Aotearoa to carry out the imperial orders of the British Empire in the mid-nineteenth century and their impacts on Māori communities. Revealing political power shifts, Garrison World illuminates the lived experiences of ordinary people caught up in the global machinations of the colonial project — histories often hidden in plain sight in the land, monuments and street names.'
To see the full shortlist visit the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards website.
The winners will be announced 13 May in Auckland during the Auckland Writers Festival.
Garrison World: Redcoat Soldiers in New Zealand and across the British Empire is available in local bookstores and direct from our website.