To mark the occasion of the twenty-year anniversary of the death of our founder, Professor Peter Isaac, Print Networks announces a biennial essay prize for the best essay in the field of the history of the British book trades and their regional, national and international networks.
THE RULES The essay can be on any aspect of the history of the British book trades and their regional, national and international networks during any era. Papers drawing on research in primary sources and critical, methodological or theoretical essays are welcome. Any student registered for a postgraduate degree (master’s or doctoral) is eligible to enter the competition. Early career scholars within three years of completion of their PhD are also eligible, as are independent scholars without a formal affiliation. The text of the essay (exclusive of references and bibliography) must be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, and must be submitted in English. The essay must not have been published elsewhere or submitted for publication elsewhere. An electronic copy of the essay (in Word format) should be submitted as an email attachment to Dr Catherine Armstrong. a member of the Print Networks committee, by 1 February 2022.
THE DECISION The essays submitted will be assessed by at least three members of Print Networks’ committee (all of whom are active researchers in the field). Submissions will be judged in terms of their originality, depth, scope and rigour and the extent to which they make a new contribution to historical understanding, as well as qualities of style and presentation. The Print Networks committee reserves the right not to award a prize in any particular year. The prize will be announced in April 2022 via email, on the Print Networks website and will be awarded publicly at the Print Networks conference in Appleby 2022. The prize will be £300 and the winning article will also be published in the journal Publishing History.
Please also direct any questions about the prize to Dr Catherine Armstrong.