Modern Humanities Research Association (MHRA)

Peer review procedure

The MHRA publishes a wide range of book series; submission and peer review procedures differ from series to series. The following broad principles apply to all:

• Any author may propose a book. No university affiliation is required.
• Book proposals are considered in the first instance by the editorial committee for the relevant series. The committee may also consider supporting material submitted by the author (such as an examiners’ report for a doctoral thesis from which the book is drawn).
• Each draft manuscript is normally read anonymously by an expert reader chosen by the committee, who reports on its suitability. Readers are almost invariably senior academics holding a university post, and are never employees of MHRA.
• The relevant editorial committee then decides whether or not to accept a book. If so, it is placed under contract, but there are normally further rounds of drafting and scrutiny before production begins. The contract commits us and the author to work together towards that goal.