NEW YORK (AP) – Colson Whitehead is up for another literary honor, the Kirkus Prize for fiction.
Whitehead’s acclaimed “The Underground Railroad,” a novel set during the Civil War, is among six nominees announced Tuesday for the $50,000 award. Whitehead’s book is also on the longlist for the National Book Awards and last month was chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her book club.
Another novel on the National Book Awards longlist, Adam Haslett’s “Imagine Me Gone,” is a Kirkus finalist. The other fiction choices are Joe McGinniss Jr.’s “Carousel Court,” C.E. Morgan’s “The Sport of Kings,” E. Annie Proulx’s “Barkskins” and Amor Towles’ “A Gentleman in Moscow.”
Kirkus, the book industry trade publication, also announced six finalists each for $50,000 prizes in nonfiction and children’s literature. Like the National Book Awards, many of the Kirkus picks have themes of race and social justice.
Winners will be announced Nov. 3.