Wasafiri Essay Prize

The Wasafiri Essay Prize aims to discover, encourage, and award innovative critical essays of an exemplary standard, which constitute the most exciting academic work happening today across the field of international contemporary literature (literature published since 1965 from anywhere in the world). Early career researchers, including PhD students, from around the world are invited to submit unpublished works.

The Wasafiri Essay Prize rewards field-leading scholarship, both in content and in attention to style and form. The judges are particularly interested in writing that is daring, accessible, and engaging without sacrificing nuance or rigour.

The winners are awarded:

• Publication in Wasafiri, in print and online 
• £250 cash prize
• A mentoring conversation with an academic on our world-class editorial board in a relevant field of study
• An annual print and digital subscription to Wasafiri

Submissions to the 2024 Wasafiri Essay Prize are now closed.