Distinguished Book Awards for 2020

Background: The Society for Military History is soliciting nominations for its annual Distinguished Book Awards for 2020. Established in 1933, the Society is devoted to stimulating and advancing the study of military history. Its membership (today more than 2,600) includes many of the most prominent scholars, soldiers, and citizens interested in military history. The Society encourages research and publication across the whole range of military history (ancient, medieval, and modern, including related popular studies). The Society publishes The Journal of Military History, the leading international scholarly journal of military history.

The Distinguished Book Awards: For the 2020 awards, books published (copyright date) in 2018 and 2019 are eligible. Works previously nominated for the Society’s book awards may be resubmitted provided they were published in 2018. At the discretion of the Committee, nominated books will be considered for one or more of the following prize categories:

  • American Military History (works by single or multiple authors reflecting original research and original contributions to military history)
  • Non-American Military History (works by single or multiple authors reflecting original research and original contributions to military history)
  • Reference Works
  • Biography and Memoirs
  • First Book (a new category for works that represent a single author’s first monograph)
The committee will make its selections for awards by February 29, 2020. The Society will give the awards at its annual meeting in Arlington, Virginia, on April 30-May 3, 2020. There, the author of each prize-winning book will receive recognition at the Society’s annual awards presentation, an award plaque, and a $1000 prize.

The Committee must receive books for consideration for the 2020 awards by 31 December 2019. Please send a copy of each book for consideration with a letter specifying consideration for the SMH Book Awards to each committee member at the addresses listed below. The Committee recognizes the expense to authors and publishers associated with submitting five copies of each nominated book and therefore encourages serious submissions only. Please note that books will not be returned and that only award winners will be notified of selection.

Sincerely,

David L. Preston, Ph.D.
Chair, SMH Book Awards Committee

Phone: 843-953-5051 (o)
Email: david.preston@citadel.edu

SMH 2020 Book Awards
Committee Member Addresses

Bruno Cabanes, Ph.D.
105 South Roosevelt Avenue
Bexley, OH 43209

Eugenia Kiesling, Ph.D.
United States Military Academy
Official Mail and Distribution Center
MADN-HIST
ATTN: PROF Kiesling
646 Swift Road
West Point, NY 10996-5000

Jennifer M. Murray, Ph.D
723 Greystone Street
Stillwater, OK 74074

David L. Preston, Ph.D.
Department of History
The Citadel
171 Moultrie Street
Charleston, SC 29409

William Taylor, Ph.D
Department of Security Studies and Criminal Justice
Angelo State University
Member, Texas Tech University System
ASU Station #10922
San Angelo, TX 76909-0922