The Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize was created in 1977, in memory of Christopher Ewart-Biggs, British Ambassador to Ireland, who was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1976.

Founded by his widow Jane Ewart-Biggs (following her death, the literary prize is currently administered jointly by their 3 children) following the death of her husband, its stated goal is to promote peace and reconciliation in Ireland, a greater understanding between the peoples of the United Kingdom and Ireland, or closer co-operation between partners of the European Community now known as the EU.

It is awarded to a book, a play or a piece of journalism that best fulfills this aim, published during a two-year period up to December 31 of the year preceding the year in which the prize is awarded. The value of the biennially awarded literary prize is currently set at £7,500, an increase on the original £5,000 award of 1977.

  • 2001–02: Linen Hall Library, Troubled Images Project
  • 2003–04: Tom Dunne, Rebellions: Memoir, Memory and 1798
  • 2003–04 Special Award: Garret FitzGerald
  • 2005–06: Richard English, Irish Freedom: The History of Nationalism in Ireland
  • 2005–06 Special Award: Michael Longley
  • 2007–08: David Park, The Truth Commissioner
  • 2007–08 Special Award: Fergus D'Arcy, Remembering the War Dead
  • 2009–10: Timothy Knatchbull, From a Clear Blue Sky: Surviving the Mountbatten Bomb
  • 2009–10: Guy Hibbert and Oliver Hirschbiegel, Five Minutes of Heaven
  • 2011–12: Julieann Campbell, Setting the Truth Free: The Inside Story of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign
  • 2011–12: Douglas Murray, Bloody Sunday: Truth, Lies and the Saville Inquiry
  • 2011–12: Special Award: Peter Taylor (for his work covering Northern Ireland over many years)
  • 2013–14: Charles Townshend, The Republic: The Fight for Irish Independence 1918-1923
  • 2013–14: Special Award, Colette Bryce, The Whole & Rain-domed Universe (in memory of Seamus Heaney)
  • 2015–17: Fergal Keane, Wounds: A Memoir of Love and War
  • 2015–17: Special Award, Marianne Elliott (for her achievement in advancing the understanding of Irish history in Britain)
  • 2018–19: Anna Burns, Milkman
  • 2018–19: Special Award, Katy Hayward, for her Twitter account
  • 2020-21: Gail McConnell, book of poetry, The Sun is Open, published by Penned in the Margins.