The Mark Twain Award

First presented in 2016, the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award (Mark Twain Award) honors a work of fiction from the previous calendar year that speaks with an “American Voice” about American experiences. The award carries a $25,000 cash prize underwritten by David and Michelle Baldacci.

Poster for the 2025 Twain Award celebration, honoring Mark Twain with a literary theme, scheduled for Friday, November 7, 2025.
An elderly woman with curly white hair, dressed in a light-colored suit, sitting outdoors on a large rock, holding a small cat in her lap, with trees and grass in the background.