September 22, 2025, 10:00am

Today, the American Library in Paris announced the shortlist for their 2025 Book Award, which “celebrates outstanding works of literature that draw on France as a timeless source of inspiration.” The four shortlisted titles are:

Francesca Wade, Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife
Rachel Kushner, Creation Lake
Carrie Rickey, A Complicated Passion: The Life and Work of Angès Varda
Sue Prideaux, Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin

The winner will be announced on November 7 at a ceremony in Paris; the judging panel consists of Adam Shatz (Jury Chair), Ruth Reichl, and Claire Messud. The winning book will be hand-bound in a special, custom edition of two: one will be preserved in the Library’s Special Collection, while the other will be presented to the winning author, who will also receive a cash prize of $5,000.