The Somerset Maugham Award is a British literary prize given each year by the Society of Authors. Set up by William Somerset Maugham in 1947 the awards enable young writers to enrich their work by gaining experience in foreign countries. The awards go to writers under the age of 30 with works published in the year before the award; the work can be either non-fiction, fiction or poetry. Since 1964 multiple winners have usually been chosen in the same year. In 1975 and in 2012 the award was not given. List of winners 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s References 1947 establishments in the United Kingdom Awards established in 1947 Literary awards honouring young writers Society of Authors awards