Two Maryland authors have been chosen to represent the state at this year’s National Book Festival as part of the “Great Reads from Great Places” program. Maryland Humanities, which serves as the state’s Center for the Book affiliate under the Library of Congress, selects one adult title and one youth title each year to showcase Maryland’s literary talent.
For 2026, the adult selection is Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson’s biography of fashion designer Claire McCardell, which explores McCardell’s role in challenging gender norms as a woman who made her mark in an industry long dominated by European design houses. The book has already drawn national recognition, having been named one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books and praised by outlets including NPR, Time, and The Washington Post. Dickinson, a Maryland-based writer, has built a career spanning cultural criticism, investigative journalism, and narrative nonfiction, and has previously received honors including a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship.
The youth selection is Lisa D. Brathwaite’s book on Eunice W. Johnson, the founder of the EBONY Fashion Fair, which weaves together fashion, art, and African American identity for younger readers. Brathwaite, a University of Maryland alum, has described the honor as a chance to celebrate Johnson’s legacy while connecting with young readers at the festival.
Both authors are expected to attend the National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on August 22, 2026, where they’ll represent Maryland at the festival’s “Roadmap to Reading” exhibit alongside representatives from other states and territories. The festival is free to attend, though tickets are required, and copies of both selected books will be available for purchase on-site.
Source: Maryland Humanities press release, July 2026.
