Cardiff Uni academic becomes second person outside of US to win prestigious literary award

A Cardiff University academic has become the second person outside of the US to win a prestigious literary award.

Dr David Doddington, a senior lecturer in North American History, has received an Owlsey award for his book about slavery in the United States.

The 2025 Southern Historical Association (SHA)’s Frank L. and Harriet C. Owsley Award is awarded in order to recognise distinguished books in Southern history.

The prestigious Owsley award was given to Dr Doddington for his book Old Age and American Slavery, which has been labelled “a brilliant and gripping achievement”.

The senior lecturer has built a vast bibliography including publications in journals titled Gender & History, Slavery & Abolition, Journal of Global Slavery, and Journal of Southern History.

The book explores attitudes of “old” people in the US South, with a focus on the experiences and identities of enslavers and the enslaved. It also looks into how aging impacted the systems and beliefs underpinning slavery in the US.

The book further analyses ongoing debates on power, resistance, and survival, deepening understanding of the structures of American slavery, and personal experiences of those within it.

Dr Doddington’s said in response to his achievement: “The SHA is an institution that has meant an enormous amount to me in my professional development. I believe I am only the second non-US based historian to receive this distinguished book award, and I am just beyond honoured.”

The decorated academic said that he was “genuinely flabbergasted” to be recognised alongside the other “influential studies” and books written by historians which have received this award before.

He expressed: “It feels absurd to see my name next to theirs, and I’m waiting for someone to tell me it’s a practical joke.”

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The awarded author also celebrated his family, adding: “To mark my award, my kids [expertly mobilised by my wife] made outstanding celebration cards: I’m holding a trophy – on top of a rainbow – obviously. They also bought me a gift which somehow coincidently included the chocolate they really wanted to eat.

“I was very fortunate to be nominated for this award by my publisher, Cambridge University Press (CUP). I have received outstanding support from the editors involved in the series, Studies on the American South.

“My thanks go to Mark Smith, Peter Coclanis, and Cecelia Cancellaro, as well as to the broader awards team working at CUP.”

Featured image via Cardiff University