The National Book Foundation has announced the ten books contending for this year’s National Book Award in Poetry. The longlisted titles were chosen from a total of 256 books submitted to the foundation by publishers, and will be judged by a panel comprised of Mary Jo Bang (Chair), Ken Chen, Elise Paschen, Danez Smith, and Stephen Sparks. All of the National Book Award Finalists will be announced on October 10, and the winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 14th at the 2018 National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner in New York City.

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The full longlist:

Rae Armantrout, WobbleRae Armantrout, Wobble
Wesleyan University Press
(Read an interview with Armantrout here.)

Jos Charles, feeldJos Charles, feeld
Milkweed Editions
(Read two poems from feeld here.)

Forrest Gander, Be WithForrest Gander, Be With
New Directions
(Read Gander on translating Neruda here.)

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Terrance Hayes, American Sonnets for My Past and Future AssassinTerrance Hayes, American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin
Penguin Books / Penguin Random House
(Read poems from American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin here and here.)

J. Michael Martinez, Museum of the AmericasJ. Michael Martinez, Museum of the Americas
Penguin Books / Penguin Random House

Diana Khoi Nguyen, Ghost OfDiana Khoi Nguyen, Ghost Of
Omnidawn Publishing

Justin Phillip Reed, IndecencyJustin Phillip Reed, Indecency
Coffee House Press
(Read an interview with Justin Phillip Reed here.)

Raquel Salas Rivera, lo terciario / the tertiaryRaquel Salas Rivera, lo terciario / the tertiary
Timeless, Infinite Light

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Natasha Trethewey, MonumentNatasha Trethewey, Monument: Poems New and Selected
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Jenny Xie, Eye LevelJenny Xie, Eye Level
Graywolf Press
(Read a poem from Eye Level here.)

Emily Temple

Emily Temple

Emily Temple is the managing editor at Lit Hub. Her first novel, The Lightness, was published by William Morrow/HarperCollins in June 2020. You can buy it here.