Introduction
A decade after her acclaimed debut The Turner House was shortlisted for the National Book Award, Angela Flournoy has returned to global attention with her striking new novel, The Wilderness. Now longlisted for the Booker Prize 2025, the novel is being celebrated as one of the year’s most powerful explorations of Black women’s lives, family legacies, and the unspoken boundaries of love and survival.
A Decade in the Making
For years, readers and critics alike wondered when Flournoy would publish her next major work. With The Wilderness, she delivers not just a novel, but a statement: a literary exploration of grief, generational memory, and resilience. The book follows complex women navigating fragile landscapes—emotional, cultural, and historical—drawing readers into narratives that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Booker Prize Significance
Flournoy’s presence on the 2025 longlist underscores the Booker Prize’s commitment to amplifying bold, diverse voices. Her novel represents an important shift in global literary storytelling—bringing Black women’s experiences to the forefront of conversations not only in the U.S. but across international readerships. The recognition also situates her firmly among writers redefining the future of contemporary fiction.
Media Spotlight and Global Reach
The Wilderness has already been widely profiled in leading media outlets including AP News, Kirkus Reviews, and People, with many critics highlighting its elegant yet unsettling power. Flournoy has been featured in literary conversations with writers such as Brit Bennett and Raven Leilani, expanding her visibility beyond the Booker stage and into broader cultural dialogues.
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