NEWS RELEASE
New York, April 5, 2005 -- The American Academy of Arts and Letters announced today the names of 18 writers who will receive its 2005 awards in literature. The awards will be presented in New York on May 18th at the Academy's annual Ceremonial. The literature prizes, totaling nearly $160,000, honor both established and emerging writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The 250 members of the Academy nominate candidates, and a rotating committee of writers selects winners. The members of the 2005 committee were Paula Fox, John Hollander, Romulus Linney, Reynolds Price, William Jay Smith, and Edmund White. Anthony Hecht served on the committee until his death in October 2004.
Academy Awards in LiteratureEight awards of $7,500 each honor writers of exceptional accomplishment in any genre.
Benjamin H. Danks Award$20,000 to a promising young writer of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. Edwidge DanticatE.M. Forster Award$15,000 to a young writer from England, Ireland, Scotland, or Wales for a stay in the United States. Award jury: John Guare, Alison Lurie, C.K. Williams. Dennis O'DriscollSue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction$5,000 for the best work of first fiction (novel or short stories) published in 2005. John Dalton, Heaven LakeAward of Merit for DramaA medal and $10,000 to an outstanding playwright. Charles MeeAddison M. Metcalf Award$10,000 to a young writer of great promise. Ilya KaminskyArthur Rense Poetry Prize$20,000 to an exceptional poet. Daniel HoffmanRome Fellowships in LiteratureOne-year residency (2005-2006) at the American Academy in Rome. Craig Arnold and Aaron HamburgerRichard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award$5,000 to a young novelist of considerable literary talent for a work published in 2004. Jeff Talarigo, The Pearl DiverHarold D. Vursell Memorial Award$10,000 to a writer whose work merits recognition for the quality of its prose style. Ann Patchett |
