Peter Cundill, the Canadian investment manager rumored to be Warren Buffett’s heir-apparent at Berkshire Hathaway, has established a lucrative new literary honor designed to shine a light on the genre of non-fiction history writing: the Cundill International Prize in History.

In addition to presenting one author with $75,000 US for publishing a historical book (published in English or French) deemed “to have a profound literary, social and academic impact,” the prize will also offer two “recognition of excellence” awards of $10,000 US each.

The deadline for book submissions is June 30. A short-list of nominees will be announced in October. The awards ceremony will be held at McGill on November 25th.

From the Prize website:

The Cundill Foundation wishes to recognize and promote literary and academic achievement in history. It is, therefore, establishing the Cundill International Prize and Lecture in History at McGill University (Cundill Prize) to be offered each year by McGill University to an individual who has published a book determined to have had (or likely to have) a profound literary, social and academic impact in the area of history.

The University will grant one Grand Prize of the Canadian equivalent of US$75,000 and two ‘Recognition of Excellence’ Prizes of US$10,000 each. The recipients of the Prizes will be selected by an independent jury of at least five internationally distinguished and qualified individuals selected by the University. In order to be eligible, recipients will have published a book originally in English or in French or have published a book in the area of history that has a translated version. Books that are considered must have been published within two years of the application process.

Get the poster here.