The Aspen Institute has revealed the longlist for its Aspen Words Literary Prize, given annually to “an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.”
Percival Everett made the longlist for James, his retelling of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of the enslaved Jim. The novel won the Kirkus Prize and was shortlisted for the National Book Award and the Booker Prize.
Xochitl Gonzalez was nominated for Anita de Monte Laughs Last, alongside Tommy Orange for Wandering Stars, Morgan Talty for Fire Exit, and Chelsea Bieker for Madwoman.
Cebo Campbell was longlisted for Sky Full of Elephants, as were Shilpi Somaya Gowda for A Great Country, Fabienne Josaphat for Kingdom of No Tomorrow, and Samuel Kolawole for The Road to the Salt Sea.
Also making the longlist were Afabwaje Kurian for Before the Mango Ripens, Eric Rickstad for Lilith, Ruben Reyes Jr. for There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven, John Vercher for Devil Is Fine, and Yael van der Wouden for The Safekeep.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize was established in 2018. Previous winners include Tayari Jones for An American Marriage, Louise Erdrich for The Night Watchman, and Isabella Hammad for Enter Ghost.
The shortlist for the award will be revealed on March 12, 2025, with the winner announced at a ceremony in New York on April 23, 2025.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
