NEW YORK (AP) — Several authors have turned down awards and awards nominations from PEN America, citing unhappiness with the literary and free expression organization’s stance on the war in Gaza. This week, PEN announced its long lists in categories ranging from the $75,000 Jean Stein Award for best book to the $10,000 PEN/Hemingway award for first novel. Authors who have asked for their names to be withdrawn include Jean Stein nominee Camonghne Felix, poetry finalist Eugenia Leigh and short story nominee Ghassan Zeineddine. “I decided to decline this recognition and asked to be removed from the long list in solidarity with the ongoing protest of PEN’s continued normalization and denial of genocide,” Felix, author of the memoir “Dyscalculia,” wrote on X. The awards are scheduled to be handed out during an April 29 ceremony in Manhattan, hosted by writer-comedian Jena Friedman. A PEN spokesperson said that nine out of 60 nominated authors had asked for their names to be withdrawn. PEN also confirmed that Esther Allen had declined the PEN/Ralph Manheim Award for translation and added that it would soon announce a new winner. |
Wedding guest slammed for wearing a 'garbage bag' dress to the ceremony'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sues for defamation over National Enquirer, InTouch Weekly storiesCity once labeled 'scam capital of America' is now the BEST place to retire3 men charged in the UK with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence serviceGM's Cruise to start testing robotaxis in Phoenix areaCollege football portal classes: Ole Miss all in, Ohio State shops high end. Prime restocks againFans flock to Paris to cheer as Lise Davidsen becomes classical music's Taylor SwiftLithuania elections: Incumbent president Nausėda wins first round of electionPalestinian band escapes horrors of war but members' futures remain uncertainUS airlines suing Biden admin over rule to make certain fees easier to spot