The British Army Military Book of the Year (BAMBY) has been running since 2008. The aim of the Competition is to both encourage reading and informal professional military education in the British Army and to highlight the work of the Army's Library and Information Service (ALIS). Over the course of the next year, a team of judges will read through six short-listed books, in the search for the winner of the #BAMBY20.
Previous winners have included Dr Jonathan Boff, Dr Aimée Fox, and Prof Eugene Rogan. The Competition is not just about academics though, in 2019 we also had books written by historians, veterans, and journalists.
Today we launch an opportunity for anyone with an interest in non-fiction military books, broadly defined, to suggest titles for the 2020 Competition. In order to be considered, any book must have been newly published in the United Kingdom in the calendar year 2019.
At the same time, we are also looking for serving Judges. To be eligible, individuals must be serving soldiers of any rank from Private to Colonel. The Judging Panel will be chosen in February 2020 and will reflect the diversity of the modern British Army.
If you wish to submit a book for inclusion on the Long-list or apply for a place as a Judge, please send an e-mail to [email protected] explaining either your book choice or the reasons why you should be considered as a Judge. Applications and submissions close on Friday 31 January 2020.
Timeline:
9 December 2020 - Competition Opens (Call for Judges, Long-listed books).
31 January 2020 - Applications and Submissions Close.
14 February 2020 - Judges and Long-list announced.
27 March 2020 - Short-list announced and judging commences.
8 September 2020 - Judging complete.
5 October 2020 - Winner of #BAMBY20 announced.
8 December 2020 - #BAMBY20 Prize-giving.