James Tait Black Memorial Prize

The James Tait Black Memorial Prize is next to the Hawthornden Prize, the oldest and one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the United Kingdom. It is awarded annually since 1919 by the University of Edinburgh in the two categories fictional literature and biography. Since 2013 there is a third category Drama, awarded jointly by the University of Edinburgh and the National Theatre of Scotland. The prize money is currently (as of 2010) 10,000 sterling. The award is named after James Tait Black, a partner of the publisher A & C Black (founded by Adam Black and his nephew Charles Black ), and was donated by his widow Janet Coutts Black.

Selection of winners

May be nominated books by authors of any nationality, written in English, were published in the calendar year for the first time in the UK and represent either fiction or biographies. Authors can be awarded in both categories, but in each at most once. The selection is made by the chair of English literature with the help of his scientific staff. The price also has an advisory board, which is currently (2010) from the writers Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith, and Catherine Lockerbie, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and James Boyle, president of the Scottish Cultural Commission, composed.