On September 21, the finalists for the 19th season of the Dmitry Zimin Prosvetitel (Enlightener) Prize were announced. The shortlist features eight popular science books, with four titles in each of the two categories: Natural and Exact Sciences and Humanities.
Natural and Exact Sciences
— Evgeny Koblik. In the Upper Reaches of the “Russian Amazon”: Chronicles of an Ornithological Expedition. — Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025.
— Denis Novikov. Of Tree Rings and Pollen: Stories of Humanity’s Past as Seen Through Plants. — St Petersburg: Piter, 2026.
— Alexander Osadchiev. The Unknown Ocean: How Tides Work, Storms Form, and Invisible Creatures Live in the Depths of the Sea. — Moscow: Bombora, 2025.
— Ilya Udalov. My Uncle Is a Banana: The Secrets of Evolution Revealed by Genes. — St Petersburg: Piter, 2026.
Humanities
— Nikolai Vlasov. Germans After the War: How West Germany Overcame Nazism. — Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025.
— Ivan Davydov. People and Cities: A Guide to the Russian Middle Ages. — Moscow: Individuum, 2025.
— Lev Maciel Sánchez. Domes, Palaces, Houses of Culture: The History and Meanings of Russian Architecture. — Moscow: Individuum, 2024.
— Alexander Meshcheryakov. Nameless Japan: Demographic, Historical, and Human Dimensions. — Moscow: Lingvistika, 2023.
The shortlist was selected by a jury chaired by cultural historian and literary scholar Andrei Zorin. The winners of the Prosvetitel (Enlightener) and Prosvetitel.Perevod (Enlightener. Translation) prizes, as well as the winner of the special Biography category, will be announced on November 19.
The Prosvetitel Prize was established in 2008 by Dmitry Zimin and the Dynasty Foundation. It recognizes the best popular science books written in Russian and helps bring works of educational literature to a wider audience.
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.
What Awards Are Provided?
The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.
