Aspen Words announces finalists for literary prize
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Aspen Words, a program of the Aspen Institute, has announced the finalists for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, a $35,000 annual award for a work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
The 2025 shortlist:
- “James,” by Percival Everett (Doubleday)
- “Before the Mango Ripens,” by Afabwaje Kurian (Dzanc Books)
- “Wandering Stars,” by Tommy Orange (Penguin Random House)
- “There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven,” by Ruben Reyes Jr. (Mariner Books)
- “The Safekeep,” by Yael van der Wouden (Avid Reader Press)
The shortlisted titles address a broad range of important contemporary social issues, including identity, faith, dispossession, and the lasting impact of immigration, erasure, and slavery. The finalists were selected by a five-member jury comprised of John Deasy, Louise Erdrich, Ben Fountain, Vanessa Hua, and Tayari Jones.
The winner will be revealed at a free, public awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 23, at The Morgan Library & Museum (225 Madison Ave, New York City). The event will feature a conversation with the finalists moderated by essayist, broadcaster, and critic Bilal Qureshi.
For those in Aspen, a live watch party will take place at Pitkin County Library at 120 N. Mill St.
