Between the Lines books wins $10,000 Wilson Prize for Publishing Canadian History

Publishing house acclaimed for record of invigorating and broadening the field of Canadian History

TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Between the Lines books (BTL) has been awarded the prestigious annual $10,000 Wilson Prize for Publishing Canadian History "for its record of invigorating and broadening the field of Canadian History."  With this prize, the Wilson Institute for Canadian History at McMaster University recognizes BTL's "outstanding books on Canadian history, society, and politics."

The Wilson Prize in Canadian Publishing is named after L.R. (Red) Wilson, who has been a major supporter of Canadian History through Historica, which he co-founded, and the Wilson Institute for Canadian History, which he funded in co-operation with McMaster University. The Wilson Institute has become the premier research centre for Canadian History in the country.

The Institute praised BTL's books for "their scholarly rigor (unusual for a trade press), their intellectual depth, and their valuable contributions to our understanding of Canada and Canadians. Moreover, we applaud your efforts to apply academic standards to works aimed at a broad (and not necessarily academic) audience of readers."

The Institute noted that two BTL books, by historians Ian McKay and Franca Iacovetta, have been honoured with the major prize in the field, the Sir John A. Macdonald Prize of the Canadian Historical Association—a prize that is only rarely awarded to a work published by a trade press.

"For more than thirty-five years Between the Lines has been publishing books that appeal to both popular and academic audiences, books that challenge the status quo—our history books are a key aspect of this tradition. We are thrilled that BTL will be recognized for its contribution to Canadian History and are delighted to share this honour with so many incredible historians who have published with BTL over the years and who share our commitment to social justice," said BTL Managing Editor Amanda Crocker.

The prize of $10,000 is given on the condition that the money be used to support the publication of books in the field of Canadian History. BTL will use the money to continue to support historians whose work tells the stories of Canadians whose experiences are often left out of the mainstream history of Canada.

The Wilson Prize will be presented to BTL by H.V. Nelles in Toronto on December 5 at the launch for Speaking Up:  A History of Language and Politics in Canada and Quebec by Marcel Martel and Martin Pâquet. The launch and prize presentation will be held at the Gladstone Hotel at 7:00 pm and is free and open to the public.

SOURCE: Between the Lines Books

Matthew Adams, Between the Lines Books | 416-535-9914 | [email protected]