U.S. Novelists Are Finalists for Irish Prize

Four books by Americans are the finalists in the competition for the fourth Irish Times-Aer Lingus International Fiction Prize.

The prize, this year worth $47,000, is the largest annual award for a work of fiction published in the United States, Ireland or the United Kingdom.

The nominated books are “Jazz” by Toni Morrison, “Mating” by Norman Rush and “A Thousand Acres” by Jane Smiley, all published by Alfred A. Knopf, and “A Case of Curiosities” by Allen Kurzweil published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

The winning novel and the winners of two Irish Literature Awards in fiction and poetry will be announced on Oct. 5.

Ireland’s President Mary Robinson will present the prizes at a ceremony in Dublin on Nov. 20.