Sophie Pinkham, professor of the practice in comparative literature in the College of Arts and Sciences, won the 2026 Pushkin House Book Prize for “The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and its Empires.” 

Published this year, the book explores the forest’s place at the heart of Russian culture.

“Sophie Pinkham’s work is remarkable for its originality and the way it brings environmental and cultural perspectives together to offer a fresh way of thinking about Russia’s past and present,” said Sir Laurie Bristow KCMG, University of Cambridge and chair of the book prize judging panel. “She moves with remarkable breadth between history and literature, ideology and folk culture, empire and climate change, while remaining attentive to the human experience of the vast forests at the heart of the book. It is an exceptionally well-written, poetic and thoughtful exploration of some of the enduring questions of society, power and identity.”

Read the full story on The College of Arts & Sciences website.