Each year AATSEEL's Publication Committee gives out book awards which recognize accomplishments in three areas: literary studies, translation, and linguistics. In 1993 the committee also gave a Special Achievement award, and it was decided at the time to use that award on an occasional basis to recognize an outstanding contribution to Slavic studies that does not fit into one of the usual categories. This year the Committee agreed to give its second such award, in recognition of The Russian's World: Life and Language, by Genevra Gerhart, for the book's"outstanding contribution to the teaching of Russian language and culture." Our full citation is as follows:

The Russian's World is a unique achievement, which presents carefully selected portions of the Russian lexicon within a broad cultural context. It explains aspects of Russian culture and of Russian life (in short, " the Russian's worl") in a lively and engaging manner, and contains information that is of value to students on all levels, from those just past the beginner stage to the most advanced, and with every interest, be it nineteenth-century literature or contemporary society. For Genevra Gerhart this was indeed a labor of love, a work, now in its second edition compiled over many years without the institutional or government support that usually assists projects of this scope. In recognition of both her dedication and her accomplishment, AATSEEL's Publication Committee is pleased to present her with its Special Achievement Award.

Note: The AATSEEL is the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages.