The American Library in Paris announced Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska as the winner of the 2026 Book Award, at a ceremony held at the very hotel at the centre of the story: the Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris.
Hotel Exile has been longlisted for the Historical Writers Association (HWA) Non-Fiction Crown 2026. The judges were impressed by the unique and effective way in which the Jane Rogoyska tells the story of Paris, before, during and after the German occupation of WWII through the perspective of the Hotel Lutetia
The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction unveiled its 2026 longlist today, Thursday 3rd September, featuring 13 remarkable books showcasing that all the best stories are true, including Jane Rogoyska’s ‘Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War’.
Jane Rogoyska’s ‘Hotel Exile’ has been selected for the American Library in Paris 2026 Book Award Longlist. Created in 2013, the Book Award builds on the Library’s century-long tradition of bringing France, its culture and history into dialogue with the wider world. It is open to books in all genres, originally published in English.
In Hotel Exile, Jane Rogoyska looks beyond the famed bohemian image of the Hotel Lutetia in Paris, to reveal the dark and devastating role this iconic Left Bank institution played in the Second World War. To learn more, we asked Jane about her research, writing process, inspirations and more.