Call for MSA Book Prize Nominations

Each year, the Modernist Studies Association seeks nominations for its Book Prize and First Book Prize, awarded to books published in the previous year. Every other year (odd years, such as this), we seek nominations for the Edition, Anthology, or Essay Collection Prize, awarded to a work published in the previous two years. For the details of each prize and information about how to submit your book for consideration, see the relevant sections below.

Submissions for this year’s awards are due May 1, 2025. The shortlist and winners will be announced in the fall of 2025. We will celebrate the winning and shortlisted titles at the opening reception and annual conference.

General queries about the prizes can be emailed to Amanda Golden, MSA Second-Vice President.

MSA BOOK PRIZE

The Modernist Studies Association seeks nominations for this year’s MSA Book Prize, which will honor books with a copyright date of 2024. The prize is given each year to a work that makes a significant contribution to modernist studies. The winner will receive $1000 plus up to $600 toward travel expenses to the annual MSA conference and will be asked to chair the subsequent year’s award.

Instructions

To nominate a book for the MSA Book Prize, please send (or have the publisher send) a hard copy of the nominated book to each of three jurors:

  • Ben Hagen
    118 S. Pine Street
    Vermillion, SD
    57069
    USA
  • Leah Flack
    3543 N Cramer Street
    Shorewood, WI
    53211
    USA
  • Margaret Greaves
    29 Brookstone Dr.
    Greenfield Center, NY
    12833
    USA

Books must be received by committee members no later than May 1, 2025. Books arriving after that date may be considered for the prize but are not guaranteed consideration. Self-nomination is encouraged, as it saves a step in the process and helps assure timely receipt of books. Whether a book is nominated by the author, by their publisher, or by someone else plays no role in the committee's deliberations.

Books published in years other than 2024 are ineligible. Such submissions will not be returned.

Eligibility

  • Nominated books should not be the author’s first published book. Authors and publishers of first books are encouraged to enter the MSA First Book Prize.
  • Scholarly editions, collections of essays, anthologies, and similar edited volumes are not eligible for the MSA Book Prize. Editors and publishers of such volumes should consider nominating them for the MSA’s Edition, Anthology, and Collections Prize.
  • Nominated books must bear a first copyright date of 2024, regardless of when the book actually appeared in print. This provision applies even if a new edition (paperback or revised, for example) was published in the award year.
  • Collaborative and multi-authored books are eligible.
  • Printed books and born-digital books are both eligible.
  • Nominated authors need not be members of the MSA.
  • A book may be nominated only once, either for this prize or for the MSA First Book Prize.

MSA FIRST BOOK PRIZE

The Modernist Studies Association seeks nominations for its First Book Prize, which will acknowledge first books by new authors published with a copyright date of 2024. The prize is given each year to a first published book that makes a significant contribution to modernist studies. The winner receives $1,000 plus up to $600 toward travel expenses to the annual MSA conference and will be asked to chair the subsequent year’s award.

Instructions

To nominate a book for the MSA First Book Prize, please send (or have the publisher send) a hard copy of the nominated book to each of this year’s three jurors:

  • Kirsty Dootson
    School of European Languages, Culture & Society
    Foster Court, Malet Place
    University College London
    London
    WC1E 7GJ
  • Pardis Dabashi
    3208 Clifford Street,
    Philadelphia, PA
    19121
  • Michael Allan
    1227 W 10th Ave
    Eugene, OR
    97402

Books must be received by committee members no later than May 1, 2025. Books arriving after that date may be considered for the prize but are not guaranteed consideration. Self-nomination is strongly encouraged, as it saves a step in the process and helps assure timely receipt of books. Whether a book is nominated by the author, by their publisher, or by someone else plays no role in the committee's deliberations.

Books published in years other than 2024 are ineligible. Such submissions will not be returned.

Eligibility

  • Nominated books must be the author’s first published book.
  • Scholarly editions, collections of essays, anthologies, and similar edited volumes are ineligible for the MSA First Book Prize. Editors and publishers of such volumes should consider nominating them for the MSA’s Edition, Anthology, and Collections Prize.
  • Nominated books must bear a first copyright date of 2024, regardless of when the book actually appeared in print. This provision applies even if a new edition (paperback or revised, for example) was published in the award year.
  • Collaborative and multi-authored books are eligible.
  • Printed books and born-digital books are both eligible.
  • Nominated authors need not be members of the MSA.
  • A book may be nominated only once, either for this prize or for the MSA Book Prize.

MSA EDITION, ANTHOLOGY, and COLLECTION PRIZE

The Modernist Studies Association seeks nominations for its Edition, Anthology, and Collection Prize, which will honor volumes with a copyright date of 2023 or 2024. The prize is given every other year to a volume that makes a significant contribution to modernist studies. The winner receives $1,000 plus up to $600 toward travel expenses to the MSA Conference and will be asked to chair the subsequent award.

Instructions

To nominate a book for the MSA Edition, Anthology, and Collections Prize, please send (or have the publisher send) a hard copy of the nominated book to each of this year’s the three jurors:

  • Wim Van Mierlo
    119 Trent Road
    Beeston
    Nottingham
    NG9 1LP
    UK
  • Louise Kane
    12 Claydon Path
    Aylesbury
    Bucks
    HP21 9EF
    United Kingdom
  • Ellen Scheible
    62 Samuel Drive
    Whitinsville MA
    01588
    USA

Books must be received by committee members by May 1, 2025. Books arriving after that date may be considered for the prize but are not guaranteed consideration. Self-nomination is strongly encouraged, as it saves a step in the process and helps assure timely receipt of books. Whether a book is nominated by the author or someone else plays no role in the Committee's deliberations.

Books published in years other than 2023 and 2024 are ineligible. Such submissions will not be returned.

Eligibility

  • Nominated books must bear a first copyright date of 2023 or 2024, regardless of when the book actually appeared in print. This provision applies even if a new edition (paperback or revised, for example) was published in the award year.
  • Collaborative and multi-authored or -edited books are eligible.
  • Printed books and born-digital books are both eligible.
  • Nominated authors/editors need not be members of the MSA.