The Cundill History Prize is one of the most prestigious international awards a historian can receive for a publication — and College of Idaho history professor Dr. Mark Smith is under consideration for a nomination for the award following the publication of his book examining the death of Jesus Christ.
Smith spent three years researching, drafting and editing his book “The Final Days of Jesus: The Thrill of Defeat, The Agony of Victory: A Classical Historian Explores Jesus’s Arrest, Trial, and Execution,” placing the trial and death of Jesus Christ in the historical context and culture of the Roman Empire. In the beginning of the process, Smith had not intended to write a full book on the subject, let alone write a book with the potential to be nominated for an international award.
“My first response is that this feels a lot like I have been asked to play for the Yotes basketball team in the national tournament: fearful, hopeful, anxious, thankful,” Smith said. “Beyond that, I suspect the cliché is appropriate: I would feel most honored to have my book nominated.”
Published by The Lutterworth Press in Cambridge in January, the book qualified to be nominated for the 2018 Cundill History Prize, an international prize recognizing the world’s best history writing in the English language. A jury of distinguished historians and writers select a winner from the list of finalists based on the book’s historical scholarship, literary quality, originality and broad appeal, with the winner earning an award of $75,000.
While submissions for the 2018 Cundill History Prize remain open until June 1, Smith was informed by his publisher in April that his book was being submitted by them for a nomination. The winner of this year’s prize will be announced at the Cundill History Prize awards ceremony in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on Nov. 15.
“I don’t harbor any illusions that I would win, given the nature of the competition, but it’s a signal honor to be considered,” Smith said.
Smith’s book is available to purchase now on Amazon in both digital and paperback here.
The College of Idaho has a 127-year-old legacy of excellence. The C of I is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition and history of producing successful graduates, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.