Key dates for this year:

Wednesday 14 November 2001
Shortlists announced in all five categories

Friday 4 January 2002
Award winners announced in four categories: First Novel, Novel, Biography and Poetry

Tuesday 22 January 2002
Whitbread Book Awards presentation ceremony at The Brewery, London EC1

Announcement of Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year and Whitbread Book of the Year.