Prize Watch: The Cohen

The Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing has announced a shortlist.  It's a prize for political writing, named for a popular MP, but the juries like to take a broad view of what constitutes politics.  Of their five books this year, one looks like racial issues, one legal journalism, and one history, and only two are politics narrowly defined. But hey, category creep happens with many prizes, and juries do as they will. Everything is political, I guess. And nice to see Ian McKay and Jamie Swift in there for their reconsideration of Vimy -- a book I was expecting but had not realized was even published.
Here is the Cohen's own shortlist presentation.
  

Kamal Al-Solaylee for Brown: What Being Brown in the World Today Means (To Everyone)
HarperCollins Canada
"Thoughtful and refreshing, Brown has a chance to become a made-in-Canada intellectual landmark."


Christie Blatchford for Life Sentence: Stories from Four Decades of Court Reporting – Or, How I Fell Out of Love with the Canadian Justice System (Especially Judges)
Doubleday Canada
"An unrelenting critique of a cloistered branch of government."


Ian McKay and Jamie Swift for The Vimy Trap: Or, How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Great War
Between the Lines
"An authoritative, sometimes indignant debunking of ‘Vimyism.'"

 

James McLeod for Turmoil, as Usual: Politics in Newfoundland and Labrador and the Road to the 2015 Election
Creative Publishers
"McLeod’s quirky, intricate account has much to teach about Newfoundland."



Noah Richler for The Candidate: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, Doubleday Canada

"With candour, humour, and fascinating detail, Richler lures us into the world of political candidacy."

Blogger Helen Webberley comments from Auz:

I am particularly interested in Noah Richler's book, The Candidate: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail.

I am assuming the topic is as relevant for Netherlands, France,
Australia, Germany and the USA etc as it is for Canada. I am also
assuming that once the prize is awarded, the books will be distributed to book sellers around the world.

From your mouth to God's ear, Helen!