THE MARK TWAIN HOUSE & MUSEUM ANNOUNCES 2025 LONGLIST FOR AMERICAN VOICE IN LITERATURE AWARD
May 30, 2025, Hartford, CT — The Mark Twain House & Museum is pleased to announce the Longlist for the 2025 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award (MTAVL). Now in its ninth year, the MTAVL is one of the nation’s leading literary honors, recognizing distinguished fiction that tells American stories in a uniquely American voice, one that reflects Mark Twain’s incisive curiosity and humanity.
Established in 2016 with the generous support of novelist and board member David Baldacci and his wife Michelle, the Award includes a $25,000 cash prize and celebrates fiction published in the previous calendar year.
This year’s Longlist, selected by nearly 500 volunteer readers from across Connecticut and the country, represents a powerful and diverse array of voices and styles. From over 150 submissions, the panel curated a 30-book list that spans 21 publishers, featuring acclaimed authors and debut writers alike. The list includes numerous titles already recognized by major literary institutions including the Booker Prize, Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, PEN/Faulkner Award, and Oprah’s Book Club.
“It’s a really strong list,” said Rand Richards Cooper, board member and Chair of the Judging Committee. “It includes a broad range of subjects, literary forms, and author backgrounds, making it a true reflection of the rich storytelling landscape in America today.”
The Shortlist will be announced in August, followed by the Finalists in September. The winner will be honored at a special celebration in Hartford in November.
This year’s judging panel includes:
– Esmeralda Santiago, novelist and memoirist
– Alice McDermott, 2023 MTAVL recipient
– Phil Klay, National Book Award-winning author
– Lawrence Howe, Twain scholar
– Rand Richards Cooper, critic and short story writer
Previous MTAVL winners include:
– The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton
– The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
– On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
– Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
– Dodgers by Bill Beverly
– The Harder They Come by T.C. Boyle
– Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh
– Absolution by Alice McDermott
Longlist 2025
Beautyland Marie-Helene Bertino
Big Jim and the White Boy David F. Walker
Blue Light Hours Bruna Dantas Lobato
Broiler Eli Cranor
Colored Television Danzy Senna
Devil is Fine John Vercher
Dixon, Descending Karen Outen
Entitlement Rumaan Alam
Fire Exit Morgan Talty
Godwin Joseph O’Neill
Headshot Rita Bullwinkel
James Percival Everett
Last House Jessica Shattuck
Long Island Colm Tóibín
Malas Marcela Fuentes
Margo’s Got Money Troubles Rufi Thorpe
On the Tobacco Coast Christopher Tilghman
Out of the Rain J. Malcolm Garcia
Playground Richard Powers
Rednecks Taylor Brown
Sky Full of Elephants Cebo Campbell
Table for Two Amor Towles
Tehrangeles Porochista Khakpour
The American Daughters Maurice Carlos Ruffin
The Avian Hourglass Lindsey Drager
The Entire Sky Joe Wilkins
The History of Sound Ben Shattuck
The World After Alice Lauren Aliza Green
Wandering Stars Tommy Orange
You Like It Darker Stephen King
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About The Mark Twain House & Museum
The Mark Twain House & Museum is the restored Hartford, Connecticut home where Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, lived from 1874 to 1891. Twain wrote many of his most iconic works there, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The museum continues to honor Twain’s literary legacy through tours, educational programs, and cultural events.
For general information about the Mark Twain House, please visit:
Media Contact:
Albinko Hasic
albinko.hasic@marktwainhouse.org
(860) 280-3152