Sunil Amrith Wins British Academy Book Prize for The Burning Earth

Renowned Indian-origin historian Sunil Amrith has won the prestigious British Academy Book Prize for his groundbreaking work, The Burning Earth: An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years. The award, worth £25,000, celebrates the world’s best works of non-fiction. The British Academy Book Prize recognizes authors who make outstanding contributions to the understanding of global society, culture, and history. This year, Sunil Amrith was honored for his deeply researched and emotionally powerful book that explores the relationship between humanity and the environment.

Born in Kenya to South Indian parents, Sunil Amrith grew up in Singapore and now serves as a Professor of History at Yale University in the United States. His work stands as a reflection of global heritage and intellectual depth. The judges described The Burning Earth as “important reading” in the context of the modern climate crisis. The British Academy Book Prize was presented to him during a ceremony held at the British Academy in London, where his book was hailed as an essential contribution to the understanding of environmental history.

Speaking via live video link from the US, Sunil Amrith expressed that The Burning Earth is not meant to be a bleak narrative but rather a hopeful exploration of humanity’s past and its possible future. He said the book reveals the close connection between human suffering and environmental degradation, highlighting that both have always been intertwined. Through his lens, the British Academy Book Prize winner emphasized the forgotten ideas and sustainable technologies that once guided human civilization, suggesting that these lost paths could inspire a more balanced and peaceful way of living on Earth.

Professor Rebecca Earle, chair of the British Academy Book Prize judging panel, described The Burning Earth as a “magisterial account of the interconnections between human history and environmental transformation.” She praised Sunil Amrith for his global perspective and vivid storytelling, calling his book “important reading for anyone seeking to understand the origins of today’s climate crisis.” The panel noted that Amrith’s ability to merge rigorous research with engaging prose made his work stand out among the six shortlisted books.

The British Academy Book Prize recognized The Burning Earth as a remarkable example of how colonization, industrialization, and migration have shaped both the modern world and the current environmental challenges. The book takes readers on a journey through continents and centuries — from the conquest of the Americas to British gold mining in South Africa, from the Black Death to the Second World War — revealing how every human endeavor has left a mark on the planet. The British Academy Book Prize judges highlighted Amrith’s ability to turn historical data into an engaging narrative that connects deeply with readers.

Professor Susan J. Smith, President of the British Academy, described the winning book as a perfect blend of evidence-based insight and storytelling brilliance. She said that The Burning Earth combines “rigorous research with page-turning prose,” making it both an academic triumph and an accessible read. This, she added, is exactly what the British Academy Book Prize seeks to honor each year — works that expand public understanding of the world through thoughtful, well-written research.

The other shortlisted titles for the British Academy Book Prize included The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple, The Baton and The Cross: Russia’s Church from Pagans to Putin by Lucy Ash, Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance by Bronwen Everill, Sick of It: The Global Fight for Women’s Health by Sophie Harman, and Sound Tracks: A Musical Detective Story by Graeme Lawson. While each of these works received recognition and £1,000, it was Sunil Amrith’s The Burning Earth that captured the spirit of the prize — a combination of originality, insight, and global relevance.

The British Academy Book Prize, established in 2013, is one of the UK’s most respected literary honors in the fields of humanities and social sciences. It celebrates authors of any nationality whose works are published in English and offer new perspectives on the human experience. By awarding this year’s prize to Sunil Amrith, the British Academy reaffirmed its commitment to highlighting voices that challenge readers to rethink their understanding of history and the environment.

Through The Burning Earth, Sunil Amrith not only captures the long history of environmental change but also inspires reflection on how the choices of past generations continue to shape our planet today. His win at the British Academy Book Prize underscores the importance of reconnecting with forgotten wisdom and rediscovering humanity’s potential to build a more sustainable and compassionate world.