The Gypsy Lore Society Book Prize in Romani Studies

Call for Nominations

The Gypsy Lore Society Book Prize in Romani Studies is awarded biannually to celebrate an outstanding academic book from around the world published during the previous two calendar years in the field of Romani Studies. We now call for nominations for books published in 2023 and 2024. The deadline for receipt of all nominations is 30 June 2025. 

About the Book Prize

The Gypsy Lore Society Book Prize in Romani Studies is awarded biannually to celebrate an outstanding academic book from around the world published during the previous two calendar years in the field of Romani Studies.

The winning book will be announced as part of the GLS annual meeting and Romani Studies conference in 2025. The winner will receive an award of 2,000 USD (note that the amount can be taxable depending on your country-specific rules).

A book is eligible for the prize if:

•  The copyright date inside the book lists 2023 or 2024 as the publication date.

•  The book has been published by a publishing house with a track record in academic publications.

•  The work deals with any aspect and area in the field of Romani Studies and/or communities defined as Roma, Gypsy and Travellers. Works from all disciplines will be considered.

Note that serial publications such as magazines and journals are ineligible as well as edited volumes, textbooks, and bibliographies. We do not accept nominations for books in popular science or fiction. Books by currently serving members of the Book Prize Committee or their immediate family members are not eligible.

Nominating instructions:

To nominate/apply for the Book Prize send the following to glsbookprize2025@gmail.com:

1.      A one-page letter underlining the outstanding nature and academic qualities of the nominated book;

2.  Short bio of the author(s);

3.      In case of open access and e-publications – a link or an e-copy of the book. In case of books in print format, send either a pdf file of the Accepted Author Version of the book OR three copies of the book to Sofiya Zahova, Njálsgata 69, Reykjavík 101, Iceland. If the latter, include “book prize nomination, non-commercial parcel” in the description of your package containing the book copies. Your nomination letter must be sent by email until 30 June 2025 at the latest and the post stamp on the physical copies’ parcel should indicate a date no later than that date (30 June 2025). Please note that your nomination will not be considered unless an electronic copy or print copies of the book have been received.

After nominations are received

The Prize Committee verifies if all nominations correspond to the eligibility criteria listed above. All books that correspond to the formal requirements are reviewed by members of the committee and external experts with relevant backgrounds in the field of the book under consideration. All nominated eligible books are carefully judged and based on the evaluation process, a final decision is taken by the Book Prize Committee. The decision is officially announced at the GLS annual conference in 2025.

For questions, please contact the Committee’s Chair, Sofiya Zahova (zahova@hi.is).

Prize Committee Members:

Prize Committee Members:

Ion Duminica

Liliyana Kovatcheva

Sofiya Zahova

Viorel Achim

Zdeněk Uherek