Don DeLillo becomes first writer to receive the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction
We鈥檙e not sure what we鈥檙e more excited about, the nation鈥檚 newest book prize or the novelist who received it.
Don DeLillo, one of America鈥檚 most celebrated writers, is the first recipient of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, Librarian of Congress James Billington announced Thursday.聽
Dubbed the 鈥渃hief shaman of the paranoid school of American fiction鈥� by the New York Review of Books, DeLillo is known for 鈥減aint[ing] detailed portraits of American life in the late 20th and early 21st centuries,鈥� writes .
鈥淟ike Dostoyevsky, Don DeLillo probes deeply into the sociopolitical and moral life of his country,鈥� Billington said in the Library of Congress鈥檚 official . "Over a long and important career, he has inspired his readers with the diversity of his themes and the virtuosity of his prose.鈥澛�
Author of more than a dozen novels, DeLillo is best known for his critically acclaimed works including the National Book Award winner, 鈥淲hite Noise,鈥� a satire on the effects of mass culture and technology; 鈥淯nderworld,鈥� on the effects of the Cold War on American culture; and 鈥淟ibra,鈥� on the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
鈥淲hen I received news of this award, my first thoughts were of my mother and father, who came to this country the hard way, as young people confronting a new language and culture," DeLillo told the . "In a significant sense, the Library of Congress prize is the culmination of their efforts and a tribute to their memory."
DeLillo is known for his postmodern novels that explore that mess and madness of modern times: mass media, terrorism, political violence, corporate corruption, and consumerism.
Here鈥檚 what Philip Roth, the great American writer who recently announced his retirement, said of DeLillo at the Saul Bellow Award: The 鈥渃ombination of terror and comedy and sheer song鈥� in his writing means that 鈥渆veryone wants to give Don DeLillo an award."
No kidding. DeLillo is has won the National Book Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award, the PEN/Saul Bellow Award, and was a finalist twice for the Pulitzer Prize.
And now, of course, he is the first recipient of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.
The prize honors American literary writers 鈥渨hose body of work is distinguished not only for its mastery of the art but for its originality of thought and imagination,鈥� the Library said in a statement. 鈥淭he award seeks to commend strong, unique, enduring voices that 鈥� throughout long, consistently accomplished careers 鈥� have told us something about the American experience.鈥�
The prize was inspired by the Library鈥檚 prior award, the Library of Congress Lifetime Achievement Award for the Writing of Fiction, as well as the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award, which was previously awarded to John Grisham, Isabel Allende, Toni Morrison, and Philip Roth.
The Library鈥檚 new inaugural award will be presented to DeLillo in September at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, where attendees will enjoy a rare treat: the chance to hear DeLillo, who rarely participates in public appearances or book tours, speak.
Husna Haq is a Monitor correspondent.
