The finalists have been selected for the 2026 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, dedicated to "literature that contributes to our understanding of race and our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures" and sponsored by the Cleveland Foundation. Winners in the four categories--fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and poetry--each will receive $30,000. The winners will be announced April 15. See the 11 finalists here.
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A shortlist has been released for the Athenaeum of Philadelphia Literary Award, which recognizes "books of outstanding literary merit by Philadelphia area authors, as well as books whose subject matter focuses on the city of Philadelphia." The winners, who will be named April 13, receive $1,000 and an invitation to give a public lecture. There is no fiction shortlist because one title "emerged as the clear winner in fiction." This year's shortlisted nonfiction titles are:
Age of Choice: A History of Freedom in Modern Life by Sophia Rosenfeld (Princeton University Press)
Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City by Bench Ansfield (W. W. Norton)
Grave Dealings: Body Snatching in Philadelphia, 1762-1883 by Tim Dewysockie (Brookline Books)
The Maverick's Museum: Albert Barnes and His American Dream by Blake Gopnik (Ecco)
The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle over Power in America by Jeffrey Rosen (Simon & Schuster)