Middle East Strategy at Harvard

From Robert Satloff

It’s time to remind new authors (and their publishers) that the May 1 deadline for the 2009 Washington Institute Book Prize approaches. This prize, inaugurated last year, is awarded annually to three outstanding new books that have illuminated the Middle East for American readers. It is also one of the most rewarding prizes in publishing. Gold Prize is $30,000, Silver Prize is $15,000, and Bronze Prize is $5,000. Watch one of last year’s jurors, Michael Mandelbaum (who is also a member of MESH), announce the 2008 prizes in this clip (if you don’t see the embedded video, click here).

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Or read the Book Prize citations for the 2008 winners here. You may also watch Yaroslav Trofimov, author of The Siege of Mecca, accept the 2008 Gold Prize here.

The deadline for the 2009 competition is May 1, 2009, for books published during the year prior to the deadline. Read the full rules here.

Last year’s prizes went to scholars and journalists, university press books and trade hardcovers, works on history and politics. For the new crop of books, The Washington Institute Book Prize has a fresh new panel of three independent jurors, to keep things interesting. If you’ve authored or published a book over the past year, don’t miss the opportunity to submit.