BSHM BOOK REVIEW GUIDELINES
The BSHM aims to use the expertise of its membership to provide concise, timely and objective reviews of books relevant to its constituent Societies and the wider community interested in the history of medicine.
Candidate books for review should fall within the broad category of history of medicine, be printed in the English language, and have been published no longer than twelve months prior to submission for review.
Publishers are invited to send a description of new or recently published books to the BSHM Book Reviews Editor at bookreviews@bshm.org.uk as an attached PDF document. If a book is selected, the Editor will contact the publisher to make the necessary arrangements for book delivery to the reviewer.
Book reviews will be commissioned and must be original and previously unpublished. It is intended that reviews will normally be completed and posted on the BSHM website within three months of receipt of the book by the reviewer. Unsolicited reviews will not be accepted.
Reviewers are requested to:
(i) make clear what the book sets out to cover and how it does this
(ii) indicate where the book sits in the field of the history of medicine
(iii) describe the book’s main idea, theme, argument or organising principle
(iv) analyse the book’s strengths and weaknesses with relevant examples
(v) judge if the book succeeds in reaching the stated aims of the author(s)
(vi) explain what kind of reader might benefit from the book and why.
Reviews should be approximately 300 words in length, organised in short paragraphs for ease of reading online, and submitted by e-mail to bookreviews@bshm.org.uk as an attached Word document. Acceptance is subject to adherence to the guidelines and final editing.
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by reviewers are their own and should not be taken to represent the views and opinions of the Editor or the BSHM
September 2017
