Thomas Howard from the Program in Cultures, Civilizations & Ideas has been awarded the 2025 Ralph Cohen Prize from “New Literary History” journal. Dr. Howard received the prize for his essay, “Anesthetic Reading: Ether, Nitrous Oxide and Nineteenth-Century Interpretation.” Named in honor of “New Literary History’s founding editor, the annual Ralph Cohen Prize recognizes outstanding scholarship by early-career researchers in literary and cultural studies.
Founded in 2010, the Ralph Cohen Prize honors the achievements of Ralph Cohen, the founder and forty-year editor of “New Literary History.” The award reflects his longstanding commitment to encouraging and publishing the work of junior scholars.