A book paying tribute to influential Caribbean historian and UWI academic Emeritus Professor Bridget Brereton has been named a winner in the 28th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.
Titled History Matters: Reassembling the Fragments of a Contested Past – In Honour of Bridget Brereton, the publication was awarded a Silver Winner in the History (Adult Nonfiction) category. History Matters was edited by UWI academics Dr Heather Cateau, Dr Rita Pemberton, and Dr Ronald Noel, and published by The UWI Press.
The winners were announced on June 4, 2026 by Foreword Reviews.
UWI Press Managing Director Christine Randle notes, “This honour carries special significance, as History Matters pays tribute to the remarkable life and legacy of Bridget Brereton, one of the Caribbean’s most distinguished historians. We are delighted that the book has received international recognition from Foreword Reviews and extend heartfelt congratulations to the editors and contributors. This achievement highlights the global importance of Caribbean scholarship and reinforces the value of safeguarding and exploring our collective past.”
History Matters pays tribute to Prof Brereton and her significant contributions to the understanding of the region’s history. Featuring a collection of essays that explore various aspects of the economic, social, political, and cultural history of the Caribbean, it reflects her balanced approach and commitment to complexity in historical narratives.
In its statement on the awards, Foreword editor-in- chief Michelle Schingler said, “Each year, as our number of entrants increases and diversifies, the job of narrowing each genre category to a select few finalists gets harder.
FROM LEFT: Dr Ronald Noel, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Dr Dorian Noel, Dr Rita Pemberton, Dr Heather Cateau, Professor Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw, Emerita Professor Bridget Brereton, Director of the UWI Press Ms Christine Randle, Emerita Professor Patricia Mohammed, Dr Karen Eccles, Dr Fiona Rajkumar, and Dr Gelien Mathews at the Association of Caribbean Historians conference.
But that also makes the judges’ ultimate selections all the more exciting. We so look forward to their final choices, and we are so proud to celebrate this year’s exemplary slate of winners.”
Foreword Reviews is a book review journal focusing on independently published books. The INDIES Book of the Year Awards celebrate outstanding books published in 2025 by small, independent, and university presses.
