One of the nation’s leading literary prizes, the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award, presented by The Mark Twain House & Museum, was established in 2016 with the generous sponsorship of acclaimed novelist and museum trustee, David Baldacci.  The award, bestowed annually upon a work of fiction published in the previous calendar year, carries a cash prize of $25,000.  It honors works of distinguished fiction that tell American stories in a distinctively American way, embodying Mark Twain’s irrepressible curiosity about human nature and society.  Entrants are submitted by a wide range of publishers, and judged by a panel of acclaimed writers, critics, and scholars.

Over 150 eligible titles were submitted for consideration this year.  Each book was reviewed by multiple members of the reading committee, resulting in a Long List of 35 incredible books, announced in June.  After careful deliberation, a select committee further narrowed the list down to a Short List of 10 phenomenal titles, announced in August, then five finalists announced in September.

ANNOUNCING OUR WINNER!

Photo of Alice McDermott by Beowulf Sheehan.