The finalists for the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for nonfiction have been announced, with six notable works in contention. Among them is “London Falling” by Patrick Radden Keefe, which examines the tragic story of a teenager entwined with London’s elite. Keefe is already a previous winner, having earned the prize in 2021 for his investigation into the Sackler family and the opioid crisis in “Empire of Pain.”
The shortlist also features:
- “Baldwin: A Love Story” by Nicholas Boggs, focusing on the life of writer James Baldwin.
- “The Great Dictator” by Matthew Sweet, a biography of romance novelist Barbara Cartland.
- “Alexander: God, King, Man” by Edmund Richardson, exploring Alexander the Great.
- “The Traveler” by Andrea Wulf, about the 18th-century naturalist George Forster.
- “Days of Love and Rage: A Story of Revolution” by Anand Gopal, detailing the Syrian revolution.
Kirsty Lang, chairing the judging panel, highlighted the diverse themes of the entries, emphasizing stories of struggle and resilience. The winner will be revealed on November 4 at an event in London. The prize, established in 1999, celebrates outstanding nonfiction works across various genres.
