$75k Cundill History Prize relaunched

Canada’s McGill University is re-launching the US $75,000 Cundill History Prize to highlight history writing as a way to illuminate the truth at a time when informed, factual debate is “increasingly losing out to populism and retrenchment is on the rise”.

Eminent historian Margaret MacMillan has been named as chair of judges for the prize, which has been rebranded in its 10th year, benefiting from a new logo and website design.

MacMillan, a professor at Oxford University, said: “History—good, readable, evidence-based history—is part of the toolbox of democracy. We live in a challenging world and it is more important than ever to understand ourselves and others, where we came from and where we might be going, and only history can provide those insights.”

The prize is open to books published in English from any country in the world, regardless of the nationality or place of residence of their authors and translations are “warmly” welcomed, said organisers. The prizewinner will receive $75,000, while two runners-up will receive $10,000. Submissions are open until June 16, 2017, for books published in English between 1st June, 2016, and 31st May, 2017.