Author John Vaillant is seen in an undated handout photo. Vaillant's best-selling book about the Fort McMurray wildfire is shortlisted for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Penguin Random House, Ian Hinkle, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
March 19, 2024 - 9:26 PM
TORONTO - John Vaillant's bestselling book about the Fort McMurray wildfire is shortlisted for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.
"Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast" is one of five non-fiction books in the running for the $25,000 award, which is administered by the Writers' Trust of Canada.
It previously won the prestigious U.K.-based Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.
The other finalists for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize include "Not Here: Why American Democracy Is Eroding and How Canada Can Protect Itself" by Rob Goodman and "Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial" by Benjamin Perrin.
Also in the running are "Canada: Beyond Grudges, Grievances, and Disunity" by Donald J. Savoie and "The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart" by Astra Taylor.
The award, which will be handed out at the Politics and the Pen gala on May 7, goes to a work of political writing that "has the potential to shape or influence thinking on Canadian political life."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2024.
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