World History Encyclopedia just announced the winners of its Ink of Ages Fiction Prize. It’s an international short story contest featuring tales of history and myth, sponsored by Oxford University Press. I was honored to serve as a judge in the final round, alongside fellow authors, historians, members of the WHE community, and Oxford University Press editors.

The stories were fun and compelling. You can read the five winners, all linked to the 2024 winners’ page.

First place went to Sallyann Halstead of Somerset, UK for “Circles in the Sand.” It’s a poignant tale of two real-life 19th century geniuses: German mathematician Carl Gauss and French physicist, philosopher, and mathematician Sophie Germain. Congratulations to Sallyann and all the winners.

I serve on the WHE Board of Advisors, and I can’t recommend the site more highly – to historians, history buffs, teachers, students, and the curious everywhere.