The British Association for Romantic Studies invites expressions of interest from Romanticists who would like to serve on the judging panel for the next BARS First Book Prize. The prize has been awarded since 2013, and the last award was made at the 2024 BARS conference, covering books published in 2021 and 2022. The previous judging panel has advised that it would be helpful to bring the prize back into sync with BARS’ biennial conference. Therefore, the next Book Prize will be open to first books published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025 and will be awarded at the ‘Romantic Retrospection’ conference at the University of Birmingham in 2026. To adjust for the longer window, the panel will have discretion to set out a more extensive shortlist, make further honourable mentions and/or select joint winners. Future prizes will return to a biennial rhythm.
For the 2026 BARS First Book Prize, we are looking for both a Book Prize Chair (who will co-ordinate the judging process and serve as a co-opted member of the BARS Executive until the prize is awarded at the Birmingham conference) and panel readers (who will read and assess submissions and play a full part in shortlisting and awarding). Applications from Early Career Researchers for reader roles are particularly welcomed (although please note that books by the judging panel will not be eligible for the prize).
If you are interested in being involved with the 2026 BARS First Book Prize, please send an Expression of Interest consisting of a current CV and a short covering letter describing what you would bring to the judging panel to the BARS Secretary, Andrew McInnes (bars.secretary@gmail.com). Any questions can be directed to BARS’ President, Matthew Sangster (matthew.sangster@glasgow.ac.uk). Expressions of Interest will be welcomed until 22nd August 2025. Submission instructions for the prize itself will be circulated during the autumn.