Shelley with Benjamin shortlisted for BARS First Book Prize

Posted on 6th May, 2026

We are delighted to share that Shelley with Benjamin: A Critical Mosaic by Mathelinda Nabugodi has been shortlisted for the British Association of Romantic Studies (BARS) First Book Prize 2026.

The shortlisting recognises an outstanding first monograph in Romantic Studies and places Nabugodi’s book among an impressive and highly competitive field. Published by UCL Press in 2023, Shelley with Benjamin offers a bold and innovative critical reading of Percy Bysshe Shelley through the philosophical lens of Walter Benjamin, reframing Romanticism as a dynamic, fragmentary mode of thought and interpretation.

This year’s judging panel received a large number of high‑quality nominations, making the selection process particularly challenging. The final shortlist reflects the breadth and vitality of current scholarship in Romantic Studies, and includes works published by major academic presses from the UK, Europe, and North America.

The 2026 shortlist is chaired by Professor Ross Wilson (University of Cambridge), with judges Dr Susan Civale (Canterbury Christ Church University), Professor Daisy Hay (University of Exeter), Dr Andrew McInnes (Edge Hill University), Dr Cleo O’Callaghan Yeoman (University of Glasgow), Dr Emily Paterson-Morgan (The Byron Society), and Dr Amy Wilcockson (Queen Mary University of London).

The winner of the BARS First Book Prize will be announced at the BARS International Conference 2026, Romantic Retrospections, which will take place at the University of Birmingham from Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 July