Herbert Warren Mason Fellowship Grant

The Herbert Warren Mason Fellowship, established in 2017 by the American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR), supports scholars, poets, and artists in retelling ancient and medieval myths from the Near East and Mediterranean. With a biennial award of $5,000, the fellowship encourages innovative project proposals that reflect Herbert Mason's literary legacy. The funds can facilitate travel to special collections or access rare materials, enriching scholarly studies and creative endeavors.

About ASOR
ASOR is apolitical and has no religious affiliation.
Research Fellowships for ASOR Members
ASOR provides research funding for members through the Study of Collections Fellowships, Dar Ben Gacem Tunisian Fellowships, Herbert Warren Mason Fellowships, and Mesopotamian Fellowships.
The Herbert Warren Mason Fellowship, Retelling of Ancient and Medieval Myths and Legends of the Near East and Wider Mediterranean (including oral transmissions) was established in 2017 in memory of Herbert W. Mason (1932 – 2017).
The Mason Fellowship under the auspices of the American Society of Overseas Research carries a monetary value of $5,000. It will be awarded biennially to a scholar/poet/writer/artist whose project proposal comes closest in scope to Herbert Mason’s oeuvre. The project manuscript must be translated into English. The monetary award may be used to support travel expenditures to special collections, acquire access to rare or hard to find research materials, art illustrations of a proposal or to further scholarly studies.
Considering the Scope of Mason’s Oeuvre
Mason’s reflections, in his own words, on the poet’s art of retelling of a myth, on myth, on mysticism and union with God, and various preparations for such experience.
Herbert W. Mason
Herbert Mason was a distinguished and prolific scholar of extraordinary and wide-ranging erudition. He held the positions of University Professor, Professor of History and Religion and Aurelio Professor of History and Religious Thought at Boston University and was Founding Director of the Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilizations, Boston University and President of the L’Association des Amis de Louis Massignon Paris, France.
He moved gracefully between ancient and medieval Near Eastern texts and contemporary literatures. An eminent scholar and translator, writer and poet, his dramatic retelling of the ancient Sumerian Epic Poem Gilgamesh transcends boundaries of age, language, religion and time. He was the translator into English and editor of Louis Massignon’s magnum opus, The Passion of al-Hallaj: Mystic and Martyr of Islam in Four Volumes. His A Legend of Alexander and The Merchant and the Parrot, retellings of two classic Persian tales, capture the essence of traditional Islamic storytelling and make it live again in modern idiom. The stories themselves are concerned with universal themes such as quest, enslavement and loss, transcendent love and freedom. Mason’s books, including poetry and fiction in addition to scholarly works have been translated into numerous foreign languages, including German, Spanish, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Japanese.

Eligibility

Students, scholars, poet-scholars, and artists throughout the world are invited to apply. Applicants must be ASOR members or be affiliated with an institution that is an institutional member of ASOR (see a list of Institutional Members).
You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. Applicants must be members of ASOR or be enrolled as students at an ASOR-member school (see list of Institutional Members).