In the Year of Homecoming 2009, books entered for the Research Book of the Year Award
will also be eligible for entry to
Recommendations are now being invited from research institutions, educational bodies, editors of specialised periodicals & journals, and other interested parties for entry to the Research Book of the Year Award.
Criteria for Selection: Overall, the awarded book will add to our knowledge and understanding of Scotland and the Scots.
The award may be given to any book by an author or authors of Scottish descent or living in Scotland, it may also be given for any book which deals with the work or life of a Scot - or with a Scottish question, event or situation.
The book will represent a significant body of research work which offers new insight or adds a new dimension to its subject.
The book will conform to recognised standards of presentation in its field.
Timings: The Adjudicators will consider works published between 1st September 2008 and 31st August 2009.
Adjudication Panel: (i) Conveners of the Society's awarding panels. (ii) Invited specialists.
Requirements: One side of an A4 sheet giving details of the Author, Title, Publisher and ISBN, along with a description of the book and an explanation of why it is worthy of the award. This sheet must also contain the nominator's contact details.
In the cast of a nomination being put forward by a publisher, a copy of the book should accompany the above requirements.
The Result: The Awards Ceremony will be held at the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh on St Andrew's Day, 30th November, 2009.
Copies of recommended books to: Sarah Mason, (Research Book Award) The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TF email: sarah@saltiresociety.org.uk
Nominations should reach the Saltire Society by 4th September 2009.
Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth and, through a programme of events, honours Scotland's contributions to the world: golf & whisky; plus our great minds and innovations as well as rich culture and heritage. The Saltire Homecoming Literary Award will be awarded to a book which best celebrates and reflects Scotland's Year of Homecoming in all its diversity. The winning book will, in the opinion of the judges, make an outstanding contribution to this year's celebrations, insofar as it shall discuss meaningfully and appropriately matters relevant to Scotland's Year of Homecoming. Publishers from the United States and Commonwealth countries are being invited to nominate also.
Please click here for a printable version of the 2009 Research Book Awards Criteria.
2008 SCOTTISH RESEARCH BOOK OF THE YEAR WAS AWARDED TO:

Ian Duncan Scott's Shadow: The Novel in Romantic Edinburgh
Princeton University Press
The 2008 winner was announced at a ceremony held on
Friday 28th November at
The National Library of Scotland
Please click
here for the
2008 Literary Awards press release.
2008 Shortlist (in alphabetical order
Ian Duncan Scott's Shadow: The Novel in Romantic Edinburgh Princeton University Press
Alexander Fenton Scottish Life and Society: A compendium of Scottish Ethnology: Volume 5: The Food of the Scots John Donald in association with The European Ethnological Research Centre and National Museums Scotland
Christopher Harvie A Floating Commonwealth: Politics, Culture, and Technology on Britain's Atlantic Coast, 1860-1930 Oxford University Press
THE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL ARE:
Tom Bryce
Simon Winstanley
Douglas Gifford
John Carmiachael
Ted Cowan
Tony Franks
Bruce Proudfoot
The Panel has the right to withhold the awards in any year when they consider
that no book reaches the required standard.
Scottish Literary Award
Research Book:
| Year |
Author |
Title |
Publisher |
| 1998 |
Charles Jones (editor) |
The Edinburgh History of the Scots Language |
Edinburgh University Press |
| 1999 |
Priscilla Bawcutt (editor) |
The Poems of William Dunbar |
Asociation for Scottish Literary Studies |
| |
TGK Bryce & WM Humes |
Scottish Education (a special commendation) |
Edinburgh University Press |
| 2000 |
Isobel Murray |
Jessie Kesson Writing her Life |
Canongate |
| |
William Donaldson |
The Highland Pipe and Scottish Society, 1750-1950 |
Tuckwell |
| 2001 |
Alastair J Mann |
The Scottish Book Trade 1500 - 1720 |
Tuckwell |
| 2002 |
Christopher Whyte |
Sorley Maclean/ Poems to Eimhir |
The Association for Scottish Literary Studies |
| |
Ray McKenzie |
Public Sculpture of Glasgow |
Liverpool University Press |
| 2003 |
Emily B Lyle & Katherine Campbell |
The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection |
Mercat Press |
| |
Rebecca Wills (Commendation) |
The Jacobites and Russia 1715-1750 |
Tuckwell |
| 2004 |
Randall Stevenson |
The Last of England? |
Oxford University Press |
| |
J Forbes Munro |
Maritime Enterprise and Empire |
Boydell Press |
| 2005 |
RD Connor and ADC Simpson Ed A Morrison-Low |
Weights and Measures In Scotland |
National Museums of Scotland |
| 2006 |
Michael Newton |
Dùthchas Nan Gàidheal Selected Essays of John MacInnes |
Birlinn |
| 2007 |
Robert Crawford |
Scotland's Books, The Penguin History of Scottish Literature |
Penguin |
| 2007 |
David Robb |
Auld Campaigner, A Life of Alexander Scott |
Dunedin Academic Press |
| 2008 |
Ian Duncan |
Scott's Shadow: The Novel in Romantic Edinburgh |
Princeton University Press |