James and Boggs: A Literary Power Couple's Shared Focus on Black Queer Histories
Marlon James and Nicholas Boggs, a couple since 2018, have both been shortlisted for major British literary awards this year. James is on the Booker Prize list for his novel 'The Disappearers,' while Boggs is on the Baillie Gifford Prize list for his biography 'Baldwin: A Love Story.' Their works are interconnected, as Boggs’s research on James Baldwin’s 1969 direction of a play in Turkey provided the structural foundation for James’s novel. The pair, living in Brooklyn, maintain separate writing processes but are collaborating on a film adaptation of Boggs’s biography, produced by Higher Ground.
Key points
- Marlon James is shortlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize for 'The Disappearers,' his second nomination after winning in 2015.
- Nicholas Boggs is shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for 'Baldwin: A Love Story,' his first book.
- The couple met via a dating app in 2018 and have been together for nearly nine years.
- Boggs’s research revealed that James Baldwin directed John Herbert’s 'Fortune and Men’s Eyes' in Turkey in 1969, which James incorporated into 'The Disappearers.'
- James and Boggs are co-writing the screenplay for a film adaptation of 'Baldwin: A Love Story,' produced by Anonymous Content and Higher Ground.
Background
Marlon James previously won the Booker Prize in 2015 for 'A Brief History of Seven Killings' and was longlisted for the 2026 National Book Award for Fiction. The 2026 Booker shortlist was announced in September after a contentious judging process, featuring James alongside Douglas Stuart, another previous winner. The winner will be announced on November 9.
How outlets are covering it
The Guardian emphasizes the personal dynamic of the couple, highlighting their shared focus on recovering marginalized Black queer histories and their distinct working styles. The New Indian Express focuses on the content of 'The Disappearers,' describing it as a visceral, polyphonic examination of homophobia and violence in Jamaica. Firstpost highlights the professional synergy between the two, noting that Boggs’s discovery of Baldwin’s 1969 play directly influenced James’s novel structure. All sources agree on the significance of both being shortlisted simultaneously, but differ in focus: The Guardian on their relationship, The New Indian Express on the novel’s themes, and Firstpost on their collaborative process.
Why it matters
The simultaneous shortlisting of James and Boggs highlights a growing recognition of Black queer narratives in mainstream literary awards. Their interconnected works demonstrate how personal relationships and shared research can lead to significant literary collaborations. The film adaptation of Boggs’s biography, produced by Higher Ground, signals a broader cultural interest in James Baldwin’s legacy and the stories of Black queer men.
What to watch
The 2026 Booker Prize winner will be announced on November 9. James and Boggs are currently writing the screenplay for the film adaptation of 'Baldwin: A Love Story,' which is expected to be produced by Anonymous Content and Higher Ground.
- ‘Our third date was at Buckingham Palace’: Marlon James and Nicholas Boggs on life as a literary power couple The Guardian
- How Marlon James Wrote His Most Painful, Personal Book WSJ
- This Jamaican author has written ‘the novel of the decade’ — and it has a unique Toronto connection Toronto Star
- The Afterlife of Violence The New Indian Express
- Marlon James wrote the Booker novel. His partner wrote the Baldwin book. Both made the shortlist. Firstpost
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on The Guardian