Sep 17, 2026 - Culture

The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards return Friday

Sam Allard

Illustration of a book surrounded by a line of velvet rope. — Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards return to the Maltz Performing Arts Center Friday for the annual celebration of literature confronting racism and diversity.

Driving the news: This year's winners include poet Gbenga Adesina, memoirist Sarah Aziza, fiction writer Carrie R. Moore and historian Nell Irvin Painter, who's receiving a lifetime achievement award.

Zoom in: Nonfiction winner Bench Ansfield will be honored for "Born in Flames," their history of arson-for-profit in American cities.

And no, despite similar names, Bench Ansfield has no connection to Anisfield-Wolf.

What they're saying: "I've been seeing that name on the back of my favorite books since I was in college," Ansfield told Axios in a recent interview.

Winning this award, they said, is "completely surreal."
"I've been very lucky, and the book has received a lot of accolades, but there's kind of a before and after with this one. I don't think I'll ever get over it."

Stop by: The free ceremony (tickets required) begins at 6:30pm Friday, with a reception and author signing afterward.

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The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards return Friday

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