Dr. Judith Sidler is Assistant Professor in the Department of German at Dalhousie University. Her research interests include Hermann Broch, turn-of-the-century literature and culture, Austrian literature, Modernism, Narratology, and film. Courses: Goethe’s Faust. Modern German Literature

The Dissertation Prize Committee is pleased to report that it has unanimously selected Dr. Judith Sidler’s dissertation entitled “‘Das Abtauchen ins Irrationale’: Einheitsphantasien in Hermann Brochs ‘Tierkreiserzählungen’” (Queen’s University, 2002; supervisor: Dr. David Pugh) as Best Canadian Dissertation in German Studies in the academic years 2002/2004 from among the dissertations submitted.

The intellectual rigour with which Dr. Sidler deals with her topic is stunning. Her grasp of  philosophy, psychology and sociology is remarkable. As one would expect, she has an excellent command of the secondary literature on Broch.  She is a perceptive reader and analyzes her texts both clearly and imaginatively. Her dissertation is by any standards an exceptional piece of scholarship.

The Committee extends its congratulations and very best wishes to Dr. Sidler.

Manfred Prokop (on behalf of the Committee)