Academic Studies Press

Academic Studies Press is an independent academic publisher based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 2007, it publishes scholarly books, translations, edited collections, and peer-reviewed journals for researchers, university libraries, students, and specialist readers. Its publishing program is especially associated with Jewish studies and Slavic studies, while also extending into religious studies, comparative literature, history, literary and cultural studies, and related humanities disciplines. The press's catalog includes original research as well as English translations and reissues of important works. Authors associated with its list include Jacob Neusner, Fania Oz-Salzberger, Ellendea Proffer Teasley, Maxim D. Shrayer, Mark Lipovetsky, David Berger, Menachem Kellner, Viktor Zhivov, Jerold Auerbach, and Geoffrey Alderman. Its translation program has included works by Maimonides, Ahad Ha'am, Mordecai Kaplan, Eliezer Schweid, and Yury Tynyanov. The press has also developed a notable specialization in Ukrainian translations, a part of its catalog that attracted renewed public and scholarly attention following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Academic Studies Press combines a conventional scholarly book program with journal publishing and external publishing services. Its journals include Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture, the Journal of Contemporary Antisemitism, and Latin American Jewish Studies, among other peer-reviewed publications. The Journal of Contemporary Antisemitism has been edited by Lesley Klaff since 2018, while Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture has been associated with editor Joseph Carroll. In 2020, the press began publishing Latin American Jewish Studies for the Latin American Jewish Studies Association. The organization has participated in projects intended to broaden access to specialist scholarship. In 2017, it received National Endowment for the Humanities support for creating freely accessible electronic editions of 42 important works in Russian literary and cultural history. That year it also worked with the NEH and Harvard University's Ukrainian Research Institute on Words for War, an anthology of contemporary Ukrainian poetry containing work and commentary connected with writers including Serhiy Zhadan and Ilya Kaminsky. In 2018, it issued the first authorized English-language translation of Akram Aylisli's novella Stone Dreams. The press has also received or published books recognized by organizations including the Jewish Book Council, the Modern Language Association, the Association of Teachers of Russian and East European Languages, and the Koffler Centre of the Arts. Beyond its own imprint, Academic Studies Press has provided production and distribution services. Since 2012, it has served as distributor and printer for books issued by Touro College Press. In 2019, it entered an electronic-book distribution partnership with the German academic publisher Walter de Gruyter. These activities position ASP not only as a specialist humanities press but also as an infrastructure and distribution partner within academic publishing.

Academic Studies Press was established in 2007 as an independent scholarly publishing house in Boston, Massachusetts. From the beginning, its list emphasized specialist humanities research, particularly Jewish studies and Slavic studies. The catalog also developed substantial coverage of religious studies, comparative literature, history, literary criticism, and cultural history. Rather than operating as a mass-market trade publisher, ASP has concentrated on research monographs, translations, edited volumes, and other works intended for scholars, advanced students, libraries, and intellectually specialized readers. The press's subject profile is reflected in the writers and works associated with its list. Its authors include scholars and literary specialists such as Jacob Neusner, Fania Oz-Salzberger, Ellendea Proffer Teasley, Maxim D. Shrayer, Mark Lipovetsky, David Berger, Menachem Kellner, Viktor Zhivov, Jerold Auerbach, and Geoffrey Alderman. Its translation work has brought English-language readers works connected with Maimonides, Ahad Ha'am, Mordecai Kaplan, Eliezer Schweid, and Yury Tynyanov. Ukrainian translation has become another distinctive area, linking the press's literary program with the preservation and circulation of Ukrainian cultural and intellectual material. ASP expanded beyond books into scholarly periodicals. Its journal portfolio has included Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture and the Journal of Contemporary Antisemitism. Lesley Klaff has served as editor-in-chief of the latter since 2018, and her association with the journal contributed to public visibility for the publication. In 2020, ASP began publishing Latin American Jewish Studies for the Latin American Jewish Studies Association, extending the press's Jewish-studies activity into a dedicated regional and interdisciplinary journal. A significant development in the press's history was its involvement in publicly supported scholarly-access projects. In 2017, the National Endowment for the Humanities funded ASP's work to create freely accessible electronic books from 42 important titles in Russian literary and cultural history. The same year, ASP collaborated with the NEH and Harvard University's Ukrainian Research Institute on Words for War, an anthology of contemporary Ukrainian poetry with contributions and commentary associated with writers including Serhiy Zhadan and Ilya Kaminsky. These projects connected the press's specialist publishing expertise with public access, translation, and the documentation of cultural experience. The press also issued notable translations and controversial literary works. In 2018, it published the first authorized English-language translation of Akram Aylisli's novella Stone Dreams. Its books and authors have received recognition from or appeared in recommendations associated with the Jewish Book Council, the Modern Language Association, the Association of Teachers of Russian and East European Languages, the Koffler Centre of the Arts, Mosaic, and The Washington Post. Academic Studies Press has additionally served other publishing organizations. Since 2012, it has acted as distributor and printer for Touro College Press. In 2019, it established an electronic-book distribution relationship with Walter de Gruyter. These arrangements demonstrate a business model that combines proprietary scholarly publishing with printing, distribution, and digital dissemination services. Publicly available reference material does not identify a parent corporation, public listing, founder, or financial results. The press remains characterized as an independent academic publisher.

1. 2022Ukrainian translation catalog gains renewed attention

   Russia's invasion of Ukraine brings renewed attention to ASP's Ukrainian translations and related literary and cultural publishing.

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2. 2020Latin American Jewish Studies publication begins

   ASP begins publishing Latin American Jewish Studies for the Latin American Jewish Studies Association.

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3. 2019Walter de Gruyter ebook partnership

   ASP enters an ebook distribution partnership with German academic publisher Walter de Gruyter.

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4. 2018Stone Dreams authorized translation appears

   The press publishes the first authorized English-language translation of Akram Aylisli's controversial novella.

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5. 2017NEH-backed Russian literary history ebook project

   ASP receives National Endowment for the Humanities support to create freely accessible ebooks for 42 seminal works in Russian literary and cultural history.

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6. 2017Words for War is published

   ASP collaborates with the NEH and Harvard's Ukrainian Research Institute on an anthology of contemporary Ukrainian poetry.

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7. 2012Touro College Press distribution and printing relationship begins

   ASP begins serving as distributor and printer for books published by Touro College Press.

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8. 2007Academic Studies Press is founded

   The independent scholarly publisher is established in Boston, with an early emphasis on Jewish studies, Slavic studies, and related humanities fields.

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An independent specialist humanities publisher focused on rigorous scholarship, translation, interdisciplinary research, and underserved or internationally significant areas of Jewish, Slavic, Russian, Ukrainian, literary, religious, and cultural studies.

• Jewish studies book programScholarly books2007

  A core area of the press's catalog covering Jewish history, thought, religion, literature, identity, and contemporary antisemitism. The program includes research monographs, edited collections, translations, and works by established scholars. It is supported by the press's journal activity and by relationships with organizations involved in Jewish scholarship and literary culture.

• Slavic, Russian, and Ukrainian studiesScholarly books and translations2007

  This program covers Russian and Slavic literary, cultural, historical, and intellectual studies, including translations and scholarly editions. Ukrainian translations form a particularly visible part of the list. The program gained additional public relevance after 2022 as readers and institutions sought access to Ukrainian literary and cultural works.

• Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative CulturePeer-reviewed journal

  A peer-reviewed academic journal published by ASP and associated with editor Joseph Carroll. It examines imaginative culture through interdisciplinary approaches, including literary and cultural analysis and perspectives informed by evolutionary theory.

• Journal of Contemporary AntisemitismPeer-reviewed journal

  A peer-reviewed journal devoted to contemporary antisemitism and its social, political, historical, cultural, and ideological manifestations. Lesley Klaff has served as editor-in-chief since 2018.

• Latin American Jewish StudiesPeer-reviewed journal2020

  A scholarly journal published by ASP on behalf of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association. It provides a dedicated venue for research on Jewish communities, history, culture, and intellectual life in Latin America.

• Words for WarAnthology2017

  An anthology of contemporary Ukrainian poetry produced through a collaboration involving Academic Studies Press, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and Harvard University's Ukrainian Research Institute. The volume combines poetry with contextual commentary and includes work associated with Serhiy Zhadan and Ilya Kaminsky.

• Stone DreamsLiterary translation2018

  Academic Studies Press published the first authorized English-language translation of Akram Aylisli's controversial novella, making the work available to English-language readers through the press's translation program.

• 2017Open Russian literary and cultural history ebooks

  United States · International academic market

  With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, ASP worked to convert 42 seminal Russian literary and cultural history titles into freely accessible electronic books.

  Outcome. The initiative expanded digital access to specialist Russian studies material.

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• 2017Words for War

  United States · International literary and academic readership

  ASP collaborated with the NEH and Harvard's Ukrainian Research Institute to publish a contemporary Ukrainian poetry anthology featuring poetry and commentary.

  Outcome. The project strengthened the press's profile in Ukrainian translation and cultural publishing.

  Source

• 2020Add Latin American Jewish Studies to the journal portfolioProduct launch

  The Latin American Jewish Studies Association required a publishing venue for a dedicated peer-reviewed journal.

  What changed. ASP began publishing Latin American Jewish Studies on behalf of the association.

  Aftermath. The press broadened its journal presence and its coverage of Jewish studies beyond Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

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• 2019Expand digital distribution through Walter de GruyterStrategy

  Academic Studies Press sought broader electronic distribution for its scholarly catalog.

  What changed. The press entered an ebook distribution partnership with Walter de Gruyter.

  Aftermath. The arrangement extended ASP's digital reach through an established international academic publishing network.

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• 2022ASP's Ukrainian translations receive renewed attention after Russia's invasion

  The press's Ukrainian translation program received renewed interest amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, bringing additional attention to its relevant literary and cultural titles.

  Other
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• 2020Academic Studies Press begins publishing Latin American Jewish Studies

  The press began publishing the peer-reviewed journal Latin American Jewish Studies on behalf of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association.

  Product launch
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• 2019ASP enters ebook distribution partnership with Walter de Gruyter

  Academic Studies Press formed an electronic-book distribution partnership with German academic publisher Walter de Gruyter.

  M&A
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• 2018ASP publishes authorized English translation of Stone Dreams

  Academic Studies Press published what was described as the first authorized English-language translation of Akram Aylisli's controversial novella Stone Dreams.

  Product launch
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• 2017Academic Studies Press receives NEH support for open Russian studies ebooks

  The press received National Endowment for the Humanities funding to help create freely accessible electronic editions of 42 seminal works in Russian literary and cultural history.

  Other
  Source
• 2017Academic Studies Press collaborates on Words for War

  ASP worked with the NEH and Harvard University's Ukrainian Research Institute on Words for War, an anthology of contemporary Ukrainian poetry featuring work and commentary associated with Serhiy Zhadan and Ilya Kaminsky.

  CampaignProduct launch
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1. Academic Studies Press
2. Academic Studies Press official website