The Costa Book Awards (before 2006 known as the Whitbread 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 2014. The shortlist was announced 17 November 2014. The category winners were announced c. 5 January 2015. The Book of the Year was announced 27 January 2015.