The prestigious J. Anthony Lukas Project has unveiled its 2026 prize recipients, honouring exceptional works that tackle profound social issues and historical narratives. This year's awards celebrate books examining homelessness in America, the political intricacies of the US Census, and the transformative global influence of ancient India.
Celebrating Literary Excellence and Social Concern
Named in memory of the late author and investigative journalist J. Anthony Lukas, these prizes are jointly administered by two leading institutions: the Columbia Journalism School and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Established in 1998, the awards have a distinguished legacy, with past winners including literary giants such as Robert Caro, Isabel Wilkerson, and Jill Lepore.
Major Prize Winners Announced
Jeff Hobbs has secured the Lukas Book Prize, a $10,000 award, for his compelling work "Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America." The prize recognises books that demonstrate exceptional literary grace, a deep commitment to rigorous research, and genuine social concern, criteria that Hobbs' exploration of homelessness vividly fulfils.
Meanwhile, the Mark Lynton Prize for history, also valued at $10,000 and sharing the same criteria of literary grace, research dedication, and social relevance, has been awarded to William Dalrymple for "The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World." This work delves into the historical and cultural impact of ancient India on global development.
Work-in-Progress Awards Support Emerging Projects
The Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards, which provide substantial $25,000 grants to each recipient to support ongoing projects, have been bestowed upon two notable authors. danah boyd is recognised for her forthcoming book "Data Are Made, Not Found: A Story of Politics, Power, and the Civil Servants Who Saved the U.S. Census," which promises an insightful look into the bureaucratic and political challenges surrounding the US Census.
Karim Zidan receives the award for "In the Shadow of the Cage," another work-in-progress that is anticipated to contribute significantly to contemporary discourse. These awards aim to foster the completion of impactful manuscripts that align with the project's mission of promoting investigative journalism and literary excellence.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, 17th March 2026, highlighting the continued importance of these prizes in encouraging authors to address critical social and historical themes with depth and artistry.
