Dr Charlotte Lydia Riley, Associate Professor in Twentieth Century British History, has received international recognition for her recent publication.

Dr Riley has been awarded the Herbert Baxter Adams Prize by the American Historical Association (AHA) for the American edition of her book, Imperial Island: An Alternative History of the British Empire (Harvard University Press, 2024).

The Herbert Baxter Adams Prize is a prestigious award given annually for an outstanding first book in European history. Dr Riley’s work offers a bold reimagining of Britain’s imperial legacy, challenging conventional narratives and opening new avenues for historical reflection and debate.

Dr Riley said: “I am surprised and delighted to win this award and am so grateful to the AHA for recognising my book in this way. Imperial Island was written in the middle of the pandemic, and it has been lovely to find a community of readers since it has been published. I am grateful to my editors at HUP and to the support of my colleagues in the History Department at Southampton, without whom I could not have written this book.”

Professor James Ryan, Head of School of Humanities, said: “This is an outstanding achievement that confirms Dr Riley’s international standing as an historian as well as the vibrancy of historical scholarship at the University of Southampton. Many congratulations!”

The AHA’s full announcement of 2025 prize winners can be found online.