Canadian author Jonathan Cheng is one of the three finalists for this year’s Cundill History Prize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The annual $75,000 US (approx. $106,383 Cdn) prize recognizes the best historical nonfiction book, with a focus on historical scholarship, originality and broad appeal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Administered by Montreal’s McGill University, the prize is open to any book about any historical period and to all authors of any nationality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheng, originally from Toronto, is the China bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal. He is a finalist for his book Korean Messiah: Kim II Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea\u2019s Personality Cult<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Korean Messiah, <\/em>the former Korea bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal looks at North Korea\u2019s Kim dynasty and its ties to American Christianity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Drawing on letters, diaries and never-before-unearthed archival material that temper and oftentimes contradict the glorious historical record promoted by Kim Il Sung\u2019s legions of hagiographers, \uc870\uc120 \uba54\uc2dc\uc544<\/em> tells the true story of a country shrouded in fictions,” wrote the jury in a press statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other two books nominated are The First Ghetto <\/em>by British scholar Alexander Lee and John Doe Chinaman <\/em>by American scholar Beth Lew-Williams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The longlist, shortlist, finalists and winner were chosen by a jury, chaired by classics scholar Emily Greenwood. The jury is rounded out by scholars Ned Blackhawk and Barbara Weinstein, and journalist Fergal Keane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The winner will be announced on Oct. 23 at a ceremony in Montreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n