rontë Studies is delighted to announce the launch of an Essay Prize established in honour of Margaret Smith. The Brontë Studies Early Career Research Essay Prize aims to encourage new scholarship in the field of Brontë studies, recognize and reward outstanding achievement by new researchers, and support the professional development of the next generation of Brontë scholars.
Margaret Smith remains one of the most important Brontë scholars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. As well as (co-)editing scholarly editions of Jane Eyre,, Shirley, Villette, and The Professor, and The Oxford Companion to the Brontës (with Christine Alexander), Smith is widely regarded for her field-defining volumes of The Letters of Charlotte Brontë (1995, 2000, 2005). Alongside numerous other publications and contributions to the Brontë Society, Smith published many original articles and reviews in Brontë Studies over the years. Her minutely researched, comprehensive and scrupulous work will continue to be an indispensable resource and inspiration for current and future generations of Brontë scholars.
The winning entry will be:
- Submitted for publication in Brontë Studies
- Awarded one year’s free membership of the Brontë Society, including one year’s free digital subscription to Brontë Studies
- Cash prize of £500
All entries of sufficient quality will be considered for publication.
Entry requirements:
The Brontë Studies Early Career Research Essay Prize is open to anyone currently registered for MA or PhD study or within three years of completion of either award. Entrants may be asked to provide formal confirmation of their status. All entries must offer an original contribution to the field of Brontë studies. The entry must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere and should not be submitted to any other journal until the outcome of the process is known.
Submission:
Essays must be 6000–7500 words in length. The deadline for submission is 15 August 2023. Submissions must comply with the journal’s Instructions for Authors. Entrants must submit essays via ScholarOne(tm), the journal’s online submission platform. Please ensure that you select ‘Essay Prize’ in the ‘Submission Type’ box.
Essays should meet the general aims and scope of Brontë Studies – please visit the journal’s website for more information. Please note that essays submitted for publication will be subject to the standard Peer Review and editorial process. Entries will be judged by two individuals appointed by the Brontë Society.
Questions may be directed to the editors, Dr. Claire O’Callaghan and Dr. Sarah Fanning at brontestudies@bronte.org.uk.
Last modified 30 May 2023