On Blood and Dirt, the judges (who included Dave Roediger) wrote: 'In this unique account of prison labor and the development of New Zealand from the 1790s to the recent past, Davidson has unearthed a history of forced labor and how it shaped the landscape, development, and building of a country. Thoroughly illustrated with historical photographs and drawings, this work brings to light the work of many generations of prisoners who created roads, infrastructure, housing, public works, and lands for farming. This book’s definitive contribution to prison-labor history, underscores the need for historians to give greater future attention to the topic of prison labor. '
Blood and Dirt is one of three international books to receive this recognition. You can learn more about the Award here.
