Wolfson History Prize shortlist 2022

Logo of the Wolfson History PrizeYesterday the shortlist of the Wolfson History Prize was announced. It is a special year as the prize celebrates its 50th year. Starting in 1972, the prize aims to reflect “qualities of both readability for a general audience and excellence in writing and research”. As such, the books should also be easily readable to the non-specialist.

We have gone through the shortlist and provided you with shortcuts to easily find a copy in Bodleian Libraries.

This year’s exciting shortlist again features some wideranging topics: from medieval religious life, a micro-history of witch-hunting in 17th century Massachusetts, the European perception of 17th century England (Devil-Land gives a clue!) all the way to a broadsweeping retelling of 700 years of Ottoman Empire history, the origins of our oldest religions and the significance of statues in history and modern life.

You can read the comments of judges and learn more about the authors on the Wolfson History Prize announcement of 21 April 2022.

Cover of the bookMarc David Baer

The Ottomans : Khans, Caesars and Caliphs. (London, Basic Books, 2021). Find this in SOLO. Read more about this book.

 

Cover of the bookMalcolm Gaskill

The Ruin of All Witches : Life and Death in the New World. (London, Allan Lane, 2021). Find this in SOLO. Read more about this book.

 

Cover of the bookClare Jackson

Devil-land : England under Siege, 1588-1688. (London, Allan Lane, 2021). Find this in SOLO. Read more about this book.

 

Cover of the bookNicholas Orme

Going to Church in Medieval England. (New Haven, Yale University Press, 2021). Find this in SOLO. Read more about this book.

 

Cover of the bookFrancesca Stavrakopoulou

God : An Anatomy. (London, Picador, 2021). Find this in SOLO. Read more about this book.

 

Cover of the bookAlex Von Tunzelmann

Fallen Idols : Twelve Statues That Made History. (London, Headline, 2021). Find this in SOLO. Read more about this book.

 

Congratulations go to all authors in the shortlist. The topics all look fascinating. So, who do you think will win? Very difficult to pick. Look out for the announcement of the winner on 22 June 2022.

New: Undergraduate Prize in the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology (Oxford University)

Some good news for Oxford history undergraduates interested in history of science and medicine:

“Please note that undergraduate students at the University of Oxford are encouraged to submit an essay (10,000 – 15,000 words) on any topic concerning the history of science, technology, and medicine, for the Oxford Junior Kirkaldy Prize of £300. Essays must be submitted by Friday, week 8 of Trinity Term, emailed to kirkaldy@history.ox.ac.uk.

Further details can be found at http://www.history.ox.ac.uk/faculty/teaching/jane_willis_kirkaldy.htm.”