Salman Rushdie’s “Knife” and Percival Everett’s “James” Lead Nominations for the U.S. National Book Awards
The 75th annual National Book Award finalists have been revealed in New York City, highlighting a diverse and thought-provoking lineup across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young people’s literature, and translated works. Among the most notable contenders are Salman Rushdie for his memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, Percival Everett for his revisionist historical novel James, and Miranda July for her middle-age exploration All Fours.
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The winners will be announced at a formal ceremony in New York City on November 20, where honorary awards will also be presented to novelist Barbara Kingsolver and publisher-activist W. Paul Coates.
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Get Started NowFiction Finalists:
- Percival Everett – James
- Miranda July – All Fours
- Pemi Aguda – Ghostroots
- Kaveh Akbar – Martyr!
- Hisham Matar – My Friends
Everett’s James, which reimagines The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, an enslaved man, has already gained recognition as a finalist for the Booker Prize.
Nonfiction Finalists:
- Salman Rushdie – Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder
- Jason De León – Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling
- Eliza Griswold – Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church
- Kate Manne – Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia
- Deborah Jackson Taffa – Whiskey Tender
Rushdie’s Knife marks his first-ever National Book Award nomination. The memoir recounts his harrowing 2022 stabbing and explores themes of resilience, violence, and free speech.
The National Book Awards continue to reflect the literary world’s evolving landscape, recognizing both established authors and emerging voices. Everett’s James stands out as a timely reexamination of classic American literature, while Rushdie’s Knife carries personal and political weight. Meanwhile, July’s All Fours brings an intimate, provocative lens to middle-age identity.
In addition to these major nominees, the event will celebrate literary excellence across poetry, young people’s literature, and translations, further emphasizing the wide range of storytelling honored at this prestigious event.
