Most of us here are readers. We all have one (or two) such writers whom we admire the most. That person sometimes becomes an inspiration for us readers. What’s that thing that increases a writer’s face value? Their excellent writing skills? Of course, that’s the most important thing. But what else? Yes, you guessed it right! Awards. There are several awards out there for authors and here, I’ll be discussing a few of them with you.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but apart from being an active reader, I’m also an aspiring writer. So naturally, I’m more attracted to the awards given to authors for their excellence in a particular field. I see various authors getting awards and I feel proud of myself to be their admirers. I often fantasize about myself on the same platform as them and receive the same award as they are.
Awards do not define how great of an author a person is. So many authors and books deserve at least a basic award, but they do not have one. It’s just that awards encourage the exceptionally good authors to continue their work and a gesture of thankfulness for all the great works they have provided us with.
Now, as I promised above, I’ll be discussing with you some of the most prestigious book awards in the world for authors.
Some Prestigious Book Awards For Authors
1. Pulitzer Prize
Established in 1917, Pulitzer Prize is an award given for achievements in literature, magazines, newspapers, and musical compositions within the United States. It was established in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who earned his fortune as a newspaper publisher.
The first person ever to win the Pulitzer Prize in literature was Jean Jules Jusserand, a French ambassador, in 1917 for writing the best historical book about the past and present of the Americans.
The recent Pulitzer Prize for literature, awarded by the board on 11th June 2021, was given to Louis Erdrich for his fictional book ‘The Night Watchman.’
The winners and nominees of the Pulitzer Prize 2022 will be announced in April 2022. Let’s stay tuned and see who grabbed the awards this time.
2. Nobel Prize In Literature
The Nobel Prize In Literature is undoubtedly the most prestigious award in history. It is a Swedish literature award that is given annually to a certain someone from any country who has “produced the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction” in literature.
Established in 1895 by the will of Alfred Nobel, it was first awarded in 1901 to Sully Prudhomme for his poetic composition that is a rarely seen combination of heart and intellect and is an artistic masterpiece.
The Nobel Prize In Literature 2021, announced 7 October 2021, was wonAbdulrazak Gurnah for his compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents.
The winner of The Nobel Prize In Literature 2022 will be in October 2022. Let’s wait and see who swoops the award this year.
3. The Booker Prize
Formerly known as The Booker Prize for Fiction from 1969 to 2001 and The Man Booker Prize from 2002-2019, The Booker Prize is given to the best book of the year written in English and published in the Uk or Ireland.
This award was established and awarded for the first time in 1969 to P.H. Newby for his fictional work Something To Answer For, which received huge publicity and a sales boost after the award.
The latest Booker Price, awarded on 3rd November 2021, was given to Damon Galgut for his domestic fiction, The Promise.
In 2022, The Booker Prize longlist nominations will be released in March, the shortlisted nominees will be announced in April, and the winner will be announced in May 2022.
4. America Award
The America Award, claimed to be an attempt for being an alternative for the Nobel Prize in Literature, is given each year to a particular writer for their lifetime achievements in the literary field.
This award was first presented in 1994 to Aimé Fernand David Césaire of Martinique for his work as a successful poet.
The Latest America Award winner 2021 is Rosmarie Waldrop of USA/Germany, a poet, novelist, publisher, essayist, and translator.
The official announcement about the date of the declaration of America Award 2022 has not been made yet, and that makes us even more curious about it.
5. Costa Book Awards
Costa Book Awards is a series of literary awards given annually to English language writers based in British and Ireland. It was formerly known as Whitbread Book Awards until Costa Coffee took over it in 2006.
It was inaugurated and first awarded in 1971 to Michael Meyer Henrik Ibsen for her novel The Destiny Waltz, Geoffery Hills for his poetry Mercian Hymns, and Michael Meyer for his biographical work Henrik Ibsen.
No awards were given in the year 2021. Costa Book Awards, the last series, were given in 2020 to Monique Roffey for the novel The Mermaid Of Black Conch: A Love Story, Ingrid Persaud for a debut novel Love After Love, Natasha Farrant for Children’s book Voyage of the Sparrowhawk, Eavan Boland for poetry work The Historians, Lee Lawrence for biographical work The Louder I Will Sing, and Tessa Sheridan for the short story The Person Who Serves, Serves Again.
If we talk about the Costa Awards for 2022, they are scheduled for starting February this year.
6. Edgar Awards
The Edger Awards are a set of awards given by the mystery writers of America to the best works in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film, and theater.
Named after a pioneer of the mystery genre, Edgar Allan Poe, these awards were inaugurated in 1946. The first ones to receive this award for literature were Julius Fast for the debut novel watchful At Night and Anthony Boucher for amazing mystery criticism.
The Edgar Awards were last given in 2021 to Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara; Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen, When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole, Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight Against the Drug Companies that Delivered the Opioid Epidemic
by Eric Eyre, Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock by Christina Lane, “Dust, Ash, Flight,” Addis Ababa Noir by Maaza Mengiste, Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce, and The Companion by Katie Alender.
The Edgar award ceremony for 2022 has been scheduled to be conducted in April 2022.
7. The Women’s Prize For Fiction
The Women’s Prize For Fiction is awarded to the female author belonging to any nationality for a full-length English fictional novel and published in the United States. It is one of the most prestigious awards in the US.
This award was first presented in 1996 to Helen Dunmore for her fictional work titled Winter.
The Women’s Prize For Fiction award 2021 was given to Susanna Clarke for her fictional fantasy novel Piranesi.
Although the jury panel and other arrangements have been made for The Women’s Prize For Fiction 2022, there is no official declaration of the dates yet.
8. National Book Awards
Based in the United States, National Book Awards are yet another series of awards presented annually to authors of American nationality for their exceptional work and a few lifetime achievement awards.
These awards were initially presented in 1950 to Nelson Algren for the fiction The Man With The Golden Arm, Ralph L. Rusk for nonfiction The Life of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and William Carlos Williams for poetry work Paterson: Book Three and Selected Poems.
The recent National Book Awards here held in 2021. The winners were Jason Mott for fiction Hell Of A Book, Tiya Miles for nonfiction All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake, Martín Espada for poetry work Floaters, Malinda Lo for Young Adult Fiction Last Night At The Telegraph Club, and Aneesa Abbass Higgins for translated literature Elisa Shua Dusapin’s Winter in Sokcho.
Just like every year, this year, in 2022, these awards will be conducted in November.
9. Hugo Award
Hugo Awards can be considered the most prestigious award for Sci-fi and fantasy writers. This award is given to authors for their works in science-fiction and fantasy, given at the World Science fiction Convention, to the candidates chosen by its members.
This award was first presented in 1953 to The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester as the best novel, Astounding Science Fiction ed. by John W. Campbell and Jr.Galaxy ed. by H. L. Gold for best professional magazines, Hannes Bok and Ed Emshwiller for best cover artists, Virgil Finlay for best illustrator, Willy Ley for Excellence in Fact Articles, Philip José Farmer for Best New SF Author or Artist, and Forrest J Ackerman for #1 Fan Personality.
In the recent Hugo award ceremony in 2021, awards were given to Network Effect by Martha Wells, The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo, Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker, “Metal Like Blood in the Dark” by T. Kingfisher, The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, Beowulf: A New Translation, Maria Dahvana Headley, Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written by Octavia Butler, The Old Guard, written by Greg Rucka, The Good Place: Whenever You’re Ready, written and directed by Michael Schur, Ellen Datlow, Diana M. Pho, and Rovina Cai.
The Hugo Awards 2022 will be held in Chicago in September 2022.
10. Neustadt International Prize For Literature
Except for the Nobel Prize, no other literary award can compete with Neustadt International Prize For Literature. It is often compared with the Nobel Prize In Literature in terms of worth and prestige. It is a biennial award, taking place after every two years.
This award was first presented in 1970 to Giuseppe Ungaretti from Italy for his works in poetry, literary criticism, and essays in the Italian language.
The last time this award was conducted was in 2020. The prize was given to Ismail Kadare from Albania for his works in novels, short stories, poetry, essay, drama, and screenplay in the Albanian language.
The results of the Neustadt International Prize For Literature have already been announced. The winner is Boubacar Boris Diop from Senegal for his novels, drama, essays, and screenplay in the Wolof/French language.
Conclusion:
As I mentioned above, awards are a source of encouragement for the authors. As an aspiring writer, I want to see my name among these to win these ever so prestigious awards.
Also, fellow readers, may I have your attention here? You might want to have a look at these:
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