It has been a banner week for humanities in the College of Arts & Sciences. Both Nikky Finney of the Department of English and Jeremy Popkin of the Department of History were nominated for outstanding scholarship in their latest books.

Nikky Finney’s book is a finalist for the 2011 National Book Award in Poetry. National Book Awards are conferred in four genres: fiction, nonfiction, children's literature and poetry.  Five finalists are named in each genre, with this short list establishing the five most notable books in that genre for that year. Finney’s “Head Off & Split” has been named one of the year's five best poetry books.

The National Book Awards Finalists announcement is one of the most anticipated events in the publishing world – the winners will be announced on November 16. The five most notable books — “Head Off & Split” being one — have already earned a medal for their authors.  Finney will receive a medallion this November in New York.

Jeremy Popkin has been named as one of six finalists for the 2011 Cundill Prize in History for his recent publication of “You Are All Free: The Haitian Revolution and the Abolition of Slavery.” He will compete for the world‘s largest non-fiction history book award, which offers the winning author a $75,000 grand prize.

The book, released by Cambridge University Press, is based on extensive archival research that provides an extensive account of the dramatic events that led up to the revolution and the abolition of slavery in Haiti.

These are wonderful accomplishments by outstanding A&S faculty members – congratulations!