The facts
The winner was announced at the Cundill History Prize Festival’s awards ceremony in Montreal. [1][2]
The book examines anti-Chinese laws in the nineteenth-century American West using court records, immigration files and personal accounts. The award recognizes the existing book, rather than a new discovery announced on the ceremony date. [1][2]
Fellow finalists Jonathan Cheng and Alexander Lee each receive US$10,000. The prize recognizes history writing in English. [1][2]
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 29 Oct 2026, 11:28 UTC.
- Beth Lew-Williams wins 2026 Cundill History Prize for John Doe Chinaman
Cundill History Prize / McGill University · Primary source · 23 Oct 2026
Awarding organization’s actual winner announcement identifies the ceremony date, recipient, book and amounts.
- Beth Lew-Williams wins Cundill History Prize for book on anti-Chinese discrimination
The Canadian Press / CityNews Vancouver · Reporting · 23 Oct 2026
Kaitlyn McGrath’s actual Canadian Press report, carried by Rogers-owned CityNews. The agency is independent of McGill; some book descriptions come from the same award release.