Quel est le site Web ?

The Cundill History Prize

Page d'Accueil
Canada
Montreal, QC
The Cundill History Prize

The prestigious international Cundill History Prize recognizes and rewards the best history writing in English.

Peter Cundill wished to recognize and promote literary and academic achievement in history. In 2008, he established the Cundill Prize in Historical Literature at McGill (Cundill Prize) to be offered each year by McGill University to an individual, of any nationality and from any country, who has published a book determined to have had (or likely to have) a profound literary, social and academic impact in the area of history. The University will grant one Grand Prize of US$75,000 and two ‘Recognition of Excellence’ Prizes of US$10,000 each. The recipients of the Prizes will be selected by an independent jury of at least five internationally distinguished and qualified individuals selected by the University. Jury members will be allowed to serve up to two years. In order to be eligible, the author will have published a book in English (or a book that has been translated to English) in the area of history. The book (original or translation) must have been published within the following dates: June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017.

09/16/2026

Today on the 2026 shortlist spotlight we have ‘The First Ghetto: Venice and the Jews’, by Alexander Lee, published by Picador Books UK Pan Macmillan / Basic Books

‘An engrossing tale of cruel prejudice and resilience’ - The Times and Sunday Times

‘A stunning account of a dark history . . . magnificent’ - The Irish Literary Times

‘Fascinating’ - The Spectator

‘Important and timely’ - The Telegraph

To find out more about the 2026 shortlist, Alexander Lee and his wonderful book, visit the link in our bio!

09/14/2026

Today on the 2026 shortlist spotlight we have ‘Vanilla: The History of an Extraordinary Bean’, by Eric T. Jennings, published by Yale University Press Yale University Press London | History

“Jennings navigates this history with great skill, elucidating the links between geopolitics, technology and food history. . . . And best of all, he can make his enthusiasm for astutely chosen details contagious.” - Anne Mendelson, The Wall Street Journal

“Throughout this engaging book, which moves effortlessly between micro and macro perspectives on the history of vanilla, the myriad connections for world history are always on display.” - Edward A. Alpers, Journal of World History

“Vanilla is a tour de force. Eric Jennings shows how a fragile and fragrant bean once known only to the Aztecs became one of the world’s most familiar of flavors.” - Alice L. Conklin, The Ohio State University

To find out more about the 2026 shortlist, Eric T. Jennings and his wonderful book, visit the link in our bio!

09/11/2026

Today on the 2026 shortlist spotlight we have ‘Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History’ by Linford D. Fisher (Linford Fisher), published by Liveright / W. W. Norton & Company.

‘An indispensable book, as intellectually provocative as it is emotionally wrenching.’ - Greg Grandin, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning The End of the Myth

‘An eye-opening look at an aspect of Native American history too little documented.’ - Kirkus Reviews

‘Linford Fisher reveals the shocking extent and deep tragedy of the enslavement of Native peoples. But Fisher also recognizes their extraordinary resilience in resisting and enduring to the present.’ - Alan Taylor, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of American Republics

To find out more about the 2026 shortlist, Linford D. Fisher and his brilliant book, visit the link in our bio!

09/09/2026

Next up on the 2026 shortlist is ‘Korean Messiah: Kim II Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea’s Personality Cult’, by Jonathan Cheng, published by Alfred A. Knopf

‘Highly original, deeply researched and cogently observed’ - Bruce Cumings, The New York Times Book Review

‘Korean Messiah is a long-overdue and important addition to our understanding of contemporary North Korea. Cheng expertly fills in another missing piece of the DPRK puzzle.’ - Adam Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Orphan Master’s Son

‘An eye-opening view of North Korea’s apocalyptic, messianic, weird—and Christian-based—cult of personality, [with] fascinating insight into the birth of the moral equivalent of a totalitarian theocracy.’ - Kirkus Reviews

To find out more about the 2026 shortlist, Jonathan Cheng and his brilliant book, visit the link in our bio!

09/07/2026

Discover the 2026 shortlisted title, ‘The Fallen: The Magdalene Laundries and Ireland’s Legacy of Silence’, by Louise Brangan, published by The Bodley Head / .

‘Louise Brangan takes our hazy ideas of such institutions and replaces them with the stark reality ... Brangan’s remarkable book, thrumming with rage and harrowing to read, is a monument to [the] women and their suffering’ - Laura Hackett, The Times and Sunday Times

‘A searing account ... superb if horrifying testament’ - John Banville, The Guardian

‘Compelling, measured and deeply felt; Brangan cuts through shame and fable to tell the truth about the ‘inconvenient’ women whose lives were stolen by the Magdalene Laundries. Indispensable.’ - Anne Enright (anne enright)

To find out more about the 2026 shortlist, Louise Brangan and her wonderful book, visit the link in our bio!

09/02/2026

Introducing the 2026 shortlist! ✨

The 2026 Cundill History Prize Shortlist highlights books that uncover forgotten voices, and speak to our current context of conflict, nationalism and globalised commodity chains. Together, they showcase the range and excellence of contemporary history writing.

📍 ‘The Fallen: The Magdalene Laundries and Ireland’s Legacy of Silence’ By Louise Brangan | The Bodley Head / Vintage Books

📍 ‘Korean Messiah: Kim II Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea’s Personality Cult’ By Jonathan Cheng | Alfred A. Knopf

📍 ‘Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia’ By Sam Dalrymple | William Collins

📍 ‘Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History’ By Linford D. Fisher | Liveright / W. W. Norton & Company

📍 ‘Vanilla: The History of an Extraordinary Bean’ By Eric T. Jennings | Yale University Press Yale University Press London | History

📍 ‘The First Ghetto: Venice and the Jews’ By Alexander Lee | Picador Books UK Pan Macmillan

📍 ‘We The People: A History of the US Constitution’ By Jill Lepore | Liveright / John Murray Press

📍 ‘John Doe Chinaman: A Forgotten History of Chinese Life Under American Racial Law’ By Beth Lew-Williams | Harvard University Press

Follow the link in our bio to read more about the shortlisted books!

09/01/2026

Our final longlist spotlight of the 2026 is ‘The Party’s Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi Jinping’ by Joseph Torigian, published by Stanford University Press.

Joseph Torigian is Associate Professor at the School of International Service at American University and a Research Fellow at the Hoover History Lab at Stanford University.

📍 Discover the full 2026 longlist on our website.

historybooks

09/01/2026

Next up on our spotlight for the 2026 longlist is ‘The African Kingdom of Gold: Britain and the Asante Treasure’ by Barnaby Phillips, published by @ oneworldpublications.

Barnaby Phillips spent over twenty-five years as a journalist, reporting for the BBC from Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria and South Africa before joining Al Jazeera English. He is the author of Another Man’s War: The Story of a Burma Boy in Britain’s Forgotten African Army and Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes. He grew up in Kenya and now lives in London.

📍 Discover the full 2026 longlist on our website.

08/28/2026

Next up on our spotlight for the 2026 longlist is ‘John Doe Chinaman: A Forgotten History of Chinese Life Under American Racial Law’ by Beth Lew-Williams, published by Harvard University Press.

Beth Lew-Williams is Professor of History and Director of the Program in Asian American Studies at Princeton University. She is the author of The Chinese Must Go: Violence, Exclusion, and the Making of the Alien in America.

📍 Discover the full 2026 longlist on our website.

08/27/2026

Next up on our spotlight for the 2026 longlist is ‘We The People: A History of the US Constitution’ by Jill Lepore, published by Liveright and John Murray Press.

Jill Lepore is the David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University, professor of law at Harvard Law School, and a staff writer at The New Yorker. Her many books include the New York Times bestsellers These Truths and We the People. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

📍 Discover the full 2026 longlist on our website.

Adresse

Montreal, QC
H3A1A4

Site Web

http://www.cundillprize.com/

Notifications

Soyez le premier à savoir et laissez-nous vous envoyer un courriel lorsque The Cundill History Prize publie des nouvelles et des promotions. Votre adresse e-mail ne sera pas utilisée à d'autres fins, et vous pouvez vous désabonner à tout moment.