The Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History at the New-York Historical Society is a $50,000 prize co-sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the New-York Historical Society. Each year the award recognizes the best book on military history in the English-speaking world distinguished by its scholarship, its contribution to the literature, and its appeal to both a general and an academic audience.
The 2021 prizewinner is Kevin J. Weddle for The Compleat Victory: Saratoga and the American Revolution (Oxford University Press).
An award ceremony featuring a 30-minute conversation between Andrew Roberts, chair of the prize committee, and Kevin Weddle, will take place on November 2, hosted by the New-York Historical Society.
Tickets to attend this free program—in person or via livestream—are available online.
Submissions
Beginning with the 2022 prize to be awarded in 2023, only books concerned with American military history will be considered.
To nominate books copyrighted in 2022, please send five copies to the address below before the submission deadline of December 1, 2022.
Daniela Muhling
Book Prize Manager
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
49 West 45th Street, 2nd Floor
New York NY 10036
Winners
2021
Kevin J. Weddle, The Compleat Victory: Saratoga and the American Revolution (Oxford University Press)
2020
Alexander Mikaberidze, The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History (Oxford University Press)
2019
John C. McManus, Fire and Fortitude: The US Army in the Pacific War, 1941–1943 (Dutton-Penguin)
2018
Andrew Lambert, Seapower States: Maritime Culture, Continental Empires and the Conflict That Made the Modern World (Yale University Press)
2017
Cathal Nolan, The Allure of Battle: A History of How Wars Have Been Won and Lost (Oxford University Press)
2016
Peter Cozzens, The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West (Knopf)
Prior to 2016, the prize was known as the Guggenheim-Lehrman Prize for Military History, and was awarded to the following:
2015
David L. Preston, Braddock’s Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution (Oxford)
2014
Alexander Watson, Ring of Steel: Germany and Austria-Hungary at War, 1914–1918 (Basic)
2013
Allen C. Guelzo, Gettysburg: The Last Invasion (Knopf)
Visit the Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History Winners list on Bookshop.org to purchase any of these books. We receive an affiliate commission from every purchase made through the link provided. Thank you for supporting our programs!