The Executive Board of the APL is excited to announce…

The inaugural (2024) winner of the Hugh J. Silverman Book Prize in Philosophy and Literature:

• Claire Colebrook, for Who Would You Kill to Save the World? (U Nebraska P 2023)

Honorable Mention goes to…

• Kevin Potter, for Poetics of the Migrant: Migrant Literature and the Politics of Motion (Edinburgh UP 2023)

• Erin Elizabeth Greer, for Fiction, Philosophy and the Ideal of Conversation (Edinburgh UP 2023)

Key details about the Hugh J. Silverman Book Prize:

1. Eligibility and submission: The next prize welcomes nominations for books published in 2024. Nominations must come from the publisher, but authors are encouraged to notify their publishers about the suitability of their books for the award. Nominations can be made by submitting an electronic copy of the nominated book, along with the author’s information and email address, to info@philosophyliterature.com.

2. Judging and award: The APL board will adjudicate the contest. The winner will receive a cash prize and will be granted a special session dedicated to their book at the biennial APL conference, providing a platform to engage with fellow scholars and share their groundbreaking ideas.

3. Submission deadline: The deadline for submissions is January 15th, 2025. We encourage interested authors, publishers, and scholars to act promptly to ensure their nominated works are considered for this prize.

For further information, submission guidelines, and updates, please return to this page regularly. Should you have any inquiries or require clarifications, please contact us at info@philosophyliterature.com.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to advancing the realms of philosophy and literature. Let's celebrate the dynamic synergy between these disciplines through the Hugh J. Silverman Book Prize!

The Association for Philosophy and Literature (APL) dedicates this page to the memory of its founder, Hugh J. Silverman, who established the association in 1976 and remained its steadfast champion and tireless leader for much of the next 30 years. A profound thinker of postmodernity, an exemplary academic leader, and an extraordinary mentor to many, Silverman dedicated his life to the exploration of the complex interplay between philosophy, literature, and culture.

A luminary in his field, Professor Silverman held numerous distinguished positions in universities across the world. His work has been celebrated globally, with multiple Fulbright awards marking his significant contribution to the humanities. His prodigious intellectual journey took him to visiting posts across the world, including in Warwick, Leeds, Rome, Vienna, Helsinki, Sydney, Nice, among many others, underlining his broad scholarly impact.

As a philosopher and literary theorist, Silverman disseminated works that were influential and touched on themes in Western philosophy and literary theory that were both canonical and up to the moment given new developments in his lifetime. He authored and edited more than 25 books and published over 130 articles and book chapters, touching upon contemporary continental philosophy, aesthetics, cultural and art theory, hermeneutics, deconstruction, and postmodern theory. His insights and explorations have shaped and continue to shape these fields, challenging and expanding our understanding of philosophy and literature and allowing many to articulate the “in-between” of our different fields of endeavor.

Beyond his individual achievements, Professor Silverman was a builder of intellectual communities. As the Executive Director of the International Association for Philosophy and Literature, he created an arena for lasting encounters and impactful moments in the field. Silverman passed away on May 8, 2013, leaving behind an imposing legacy of intellectual curiosity, scholarly rigor, and a deep-seated belief in engaging the margins of thought. Through his life and work, he also inspired countless students, colleagues, and scholars worldwide.