The short list for the Charles Taylor prize has been announced .

Two books touching on politics and war, and biographies on ballerina Celia Franca, poet P.K. Page and artist Leonardo da Vinci are up for  this year’s $25,000  Taylor prize for Literary Non-Fiction.

Toronto writer Carol Bishop-Gwyn is a finalist for “The Pursuit of Perfection: A Life of Celia Franca” about  the late founder of the National Ballet of Canada.

The five finalists also include “Warlords: Borden, Mackenzie King, and Canada’s World Wars”  by Ottawa historian Tim Cook, who won the Charles Taylor prize in 2009 for “Shock Troops.”

Also on this year’s short list is Saskatchewan-born Ross King for “Leonardo and The Last Supper” , which won a Governor General’s Literary Award in November.

Ontario native Andrew Preston is a contender for “Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith: Religion in American War and Diplomacy” 

And Vancouver’s Sandra Djwa made the cut with “Journey with No Maps: A Life of P.K. Page.” 

The winner will be announced on March 4th.