University press
Harvard University Press
Academic, Business, History
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Harvard University Press
Harvard University Press is open to book proposals from authors without an agent. It publishes original scholarship for scholarly and general readers. Email a proposal to the relevant acquisitions editor or to submissions_hup@harvard.edu.
Harvard University Press is the publishing house of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1913. It publishes original works of scholarship for both scholarly and general intellectual readers, an approach it calls “scholarship plus.” Subject areas include economics, business, history, philosophy, politics, science and nature. Its imprints and series include Belknap Press, the Loeb Classical Library and the Murty Classical Library of India. Titles include Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty and A Theory of Justice by John Rawls.
Authors submit by proposal. The proposal should explain the book’s themes, arguments, goals and place in the literature, its intended audience and how it compares with existing books. Add your professional experience and publications, a table of contents with chapter summaries and notes on estimated length including notes, illustrations, how much is drafted and time to completion. Email it to the relevant acquisitions editor or to submissions_hup@harvard.edu.
What Harvard University Press is looking for
- Original works of scholarship for scholarly and general intellectual readers
- Economics and business
- History and philosophy
- Politics
- Science and nature
Publishes
- Academic
- Business
- History
- Nonfiction
Specialties
- University press list
How to submit to Harvard University Press
From its own guidelines- Identify the acquisitions editor for your subject area.
- Write a narrative of your book's themes, arguments, audience and comparable books.
- Add your experience, a table of contents with chapter summaries, estimated length, illustrations and timeline.
- Email the proposal to that editor or to submissions_hup@harvard.edu.
Is Harvard University Press right for your book?
A good fit if
Harvard University Press suits scholars and expert writers with original research that can also reach general intellectual readers.
Look elsewhere if
Writers without an original scholarly argument should look elsewhere, since the press publishes original works of scholarship.
Books published by Harvard University Press
Well-known titles- Capital in the Twenty-First CenturyThomas Piketty
- A Theory of JusticeJohn Rawls
- In a Different VoiceCarol Gilligan
- The Black AtlanticPaul Gilroy
- Playing in the DarkToni Morrison
Harvard University Press imprints
Which take submissions| Imprint | Direct submissions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Belknap Press | Not stated | Imprint endowed 1949, modeled on Clarendon Press |
| Loeb Classical Library | Not stated | Translation series |
| Murty Classical Library of India | Not stated | Series established 2010 |
Questions about Harvard University Press
Does Harvard University Press accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Harvard University Press accepts unsolicited book proposals, and you do not need an agent. Instead of a full manuscript, send a proposal that describes your themes, arguments, audience and comparable books, with a table of contents and chapter summaries. The press looks for original works of scholarship that serve both scholarly and general intellectual readers.
How do I submit to Harvard University Press?
Email your proposal to the relevant acquisitions editor or to submissions_hup@harvard.edu. Include a narrative of the book's themes and arguments, its intended audience, a comparison with existing books, your experience and publications, a table of contents with chapter summaries and the estimated word count including notes. Also note illustrations, how much you have drafted and your time to completion.
What does Harvard University Press publish?
Harvard University Press publishes original works of scholarship for both scholarly and general intellectual readers, an approach it calls "scholarship plus." Subject areas include economics, business, history, philosophy, politics, science and nature. Its list includes Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty, A Theory of Justice by John Rawls and Playing in the Dark by Toni Morrison.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
- Checked on the publisher's own site
