American Writers Among Booker Prize Semifinalists, Including First Native American

Six American writers, including Rachel Kushner, Percival Everett, and Tommy Orange, are among 13 semifinalists for the Booker Prize for fiction. Orange is the first Native American semifinalist, nominated for 'Wandering Stars.' The prestigious award seeks to recognize books that explore themes of belonging and displacement.

Six American writers, including Rachel Kushner, Percival Everett, and Tommy Orange, have been named among the 13 semifinalists for the prestigious Booker Prize for fiction, announced on Tuesday.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Orange is the first Native American to reach this stage of the competition, with his ambitious centuries-spanning narrative, 'Wandering Stars.' Everett's 'James,' a reimagining of Mark Twain’s 'Huckleberry Finn,' focuses on the enslaved character Jim and also made the list. Previously, Everett was a Booker finalist for 'The Trees' in 2022.

Kushner, a finalist in 2018 for 'The Mars Room,' is competing again with her spy novel 'Creation Lake.' Other American contenders include Rita Bullwinkel for 'Headshot,' Claire Messud for 'This Strange Eventful History,' and Pulitzer-winner Richard Powers for 'Playground.' The longlist also features writers from the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and the Netherlands. The judging committee, chaired by artist Edmund de Waal, highlighted the universality of the themes addressed in the selected works. The Booker Prize, founded in 1969, continues to transform writers' careers, with this year's winner set to be announced on November 12 in London.