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The André Simon Book Awards

In 1972, soon after the death of Andre Simon, the Andre Simon Memorial Fund was set up. It was started as a charitable fund by a group of people who felt that the memory of Andre Simon should be perpetuated. One objective of the Fund is to benefit the public generally in the fields of food and drink, and one of the ways in which the Fund meets this objective is through its Book Awards.

The first two Awards were given to Elizabeth David and Rosemary Hume for their outstanding contribution in the field of food and cooking.

The 2008 Food and Drink Book Awards

The Trustees of the André Simon Memorial Fund announce that, to the authors of new works published in 2008, the Fund will make the following awards in each and both of the following categories

• FOOD
• WINE, DRINKS and BEVERAGES

For the winner of each category there will be an award of £2000 and also £200 for each short-listed book. In addition there will be a Special Commendation Award of £1000.

The main criteria against which the works are judged are:

  • 1. The work shall contain a substantial proportion of original research and not simply be a re- arrangement of existing material.
  • 2. Great importance will be attached to the educational value of the work.
  • 3. The books chosen are likely to be ones that are pleasurable to read and not just professional text books.
  • 4. The book should be well produced.
The Special Commendation will be awarded to one of the short-listed books in either the food or drink category. The book may be on a specific subject considered too specialised for the main award. It may also be a book with a limited life such as a guide or similar book.

When judging the books the Trustees have the help and advice of two independent assessors. In 2008 Ivan Day has kindly agreed to assess the food books and Peter Richards the drinks books. Ivan Day has an international reputation for his research on British and European culinary history. As well as a scholar, broadcaster and writer, he is also a gifted professional cook and confectioner. Peter Richards is one of the UK’s youngest award-winning wine writers and broadcasters. Peter has published two books on wine and his writing portfolio includes the Times Online, Guardian, Daily Mail, Decanter, The Liberal, Drinks International and Harpers. He is an international wine judge and regularly hosts events and tastings.

Judging will be in the hands of the Trustees. The Trustees' decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Authors/Publishers who wish to submit a book for consideration should forward a copy to each of the Trustees, to the Secretary of the Fund, and to the Assessor for the category in which the book is entered. The names and addresses are on the contact us page. At the same time they should fill in an entry form and send it to the Secretary.

It is requested that a copy of each short-listed book is donated to the André Simon Library at the Guildhall.

Closing date for submissions is 8th November, 2008. In order to give the Trustees and Assessors time to assess the books properly it is requested that the books are submitted as early as practical and, if possible, well before the closing date.

The short-list will be announced and circulated by late November 2008 and the Awards presented in the spring of 2009.