Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

10/16/2026

Winner of the 2026 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Fiction prize, Carrie R. Moore's "Make Your Way Home" features 11 short stories set across the American south. Location plays a part in each story; steeped in place and history as they explore themes of belonging, inheritance, and deep intimacy.

Learn more about Carrie R. Moore's collection here: https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/2026/07/anisfield-wolf-book-club-june-2026-selection/

10/13/2026

We were honored to welcome the 2026 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards winners to Cleveland in September. This year's winning authors join a canon of works that for over 90 years, have opened and challenged our minds.

Explore the winning books here: https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/winners/

10/12/2026

From February 18, 2026 through February 18, 2027, Ohio will celebrate the life, literature, and legacy of Toni Morrison, Lorain, Ohio native and the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison is designed and led by Literary Cleveland with Ohio Humanities, Ohioana Library Association, and the Toni Morrison Society.

Learn more about Toni Morrison's roots in Ohio during this month's Anisfield-Wolf Book Club: https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/2026/09/octobers-anisfield-wolf-book-club-selection-selection/

10/08/2026

In Black Women Writers, a 1984 book by poet Mari Evans, Morrison states that to her the best art “is unquestionably political and irrevocably beautiful at the same time,” a standard many readers believe she has met in all of her work.

Learn more about Toni Morrison as we read "Beloved" during this month's Anisfield-Wolf Book Club!

https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/2026/09/octobers-anisfield-wolf-book-club-selection-selection/

10/06/2026

During her lifetime, Toni Morrison drew attention to the lack of historical markers to commemorate the lives of enslaved people and dedicated Beloved to the over sixty million who died during the Middle Passage. How does Beloved act as a memorial to preserve the memory of those who have been enslaved?

Explore more discussion questions to guide your reading of 1988 AWBA Fiction winner, Beloved, during this month's Anisfield-Wolf Book Club: https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/awba-book-club/

10/05/2026

Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards on film.

10/05/2026

10/01/2026

Toni Morrison credits her family with giving her a rich foundation in the language and rhythms of African American culture. Born in Lorain, Ohio, Toni Morrison has had a tremendous impact on the American and the African American literary landscapes. Her novels are widely accessible to readers and internationally praised for the quality of their prose, yet they remain dedicated to exploring nuances of African American culture and language.

This month, our Anisfield-Wolf Book Club features Toni Morrison's 1988 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards fiction winner, Beloved.

Learn more here: https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/awba-book-club/

09/29/2026

Did you enjoy reading Nell Irvin Painter's books this month? The 2026 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Lifetime Achievement Winner has an incredible catalogue of books. After making your way through her collection, we compiled a list of books for your to add to your TBR!

Check out the list here: https://www.anisfield-wolf.org/awba-book-club/

09/25/2026

"Hold on to what is important in your work."

Nell Irvin Painter reflects on her work and her Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.