Joya Chatterji, Professor of South Asian History in the Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge, and Nandini Das, Professor of Early Modern Literature and Culture at the University of Oxford, have been shortlisted for the 2024 Wolfson History Prize, which awards the best historical writing being produced in the UK.
Delhi-born Chatterji’s ‘Shadows at Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century’ charts the history of the British Raj through to Indian Independence and Partition and Kolkata-born Das’ ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire’ explores the early influence of Britain in the Indian subcontinent. These two books will battle it out with four others covering multiple centuries and countries, with a focus on major turning points in the histories of India, Pakistan, the Americas, Britain, Bangladesh, Germany and South Africa.
The judges said of Chatterji’s work: “A captivating history of modern South Asia, full of fascinating insights about the lives of its peoples. Written with verve and energy, this book beautifully blends the personal and the historical.”
Of Das’ shortlisted work, which has already won the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, they stated: “Illuminating, compelling and wonderfully rich in detail. This book is a startlingly original account of the early diplomatic encounter between Britain and precolonial India.”
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The shortlist for the £75,000 Wolfson History Prize – with the winner receiving £50,000 and each of the five shortlisted authors receiving £5,000, is completed by:
‘Traders in Men: Merchants and the Transformation of the Transatlantic Slave Trade’ by Nicholas Radburn
‘Our NHS: A History of Britain’s Best-Loved Institution’ by Andrew Seaton
‘Winnie & Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage’ by Jonny Steinberg
‘Out of the Darkness: The Germans, 1942-2022’ by Frank Trentmann
Author-historian David Cannadine, Chair of the Wolfson History Prize 2024 judges, said: “This year’s shortlist showcases the extraordinary range and breadth of contemporary historical writing.
“From politics, slavery and international relations to healthcare and societal transformation, the six titles – with subjects spanning continents and centuries – offer profound insights and stand out for their rigorous research and compelling storytelling.”
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The Wolfson History Prize, now in its 52nd year, celebrates books that demonstrate the relevance of history and historical writing to society today. The books are judged on the extent to which they are carefully researched, well-written and accessible to the non-specialist reader.
The winner of the 2024 prize will be revealed at a ceremony in London on December 2, chosen by a judging panel made up of distinguished historians including Sudhir Hazareesingh, Mary Beard, Richard Evans, Carole Hillenbrand and Diarmaid MacCulloch.
