This is a list of awards sponsored by International PEN centres. There are over 145 PEN centres on the world, some of which hold annual literary awards. The PEN American Center awards have been characterized as being among the "major" literary awards in America.[1]
To honor a "distinguished biography possessing notable literary merit which has been published in the United States during the previous calendar year."
To a distinguished book of general nonfiction that possess the qualities of intellectual rigor, perspicuity of expression, and stylistic elegance conspicuous in the writings of author and economist John Kenneth Galbraith.
In recognition of a book of poetry with high literary character by a new and emerging American poet of any age with the promise of further literary achievement.
To writers, principally novelists, "whose works evoke to some measure Nabokov's brilliant versatility and commitment to literature as a search for the deepest truth and the highest pleasure".
To "a magazine editor whose high literary standards and taste have, throughout their career, contributed significantly to the excellence of the publication he or she edits."
To books published in the United States (but without citizenship or residency requirements) by "authors of color who have not received wide media coverage".
To a writer of children's or young-adult fiction of high literary caliber "at a crucial moment in their career to complete a book-length work-in-progress."
To "exceptionally talented fiction writers whose debut work—a first novel or collection of short stories...represent distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise."
To "a distinguished living American author of fiction whose body of work in English possesses qualities of excellence, ambition, and scale of achievement over a sustained career which place him or her in the highest rank of American literature."
Honours writers anywhere in the world who have fought courageously in the face of adversity for the right to freedom of expression. Succeeded by PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award (see above).
Unpublished writers submit original short story manuscripts. Each manuscript will compete for a $10,000 cash grant and publication at Amazon.com and in The Boston Book Review. Award active for one year.
To a U.S. literary translator, editor, or critic "whose work, in meeting the challenge of cultural difference, extends Gregory Kolovakos's commitment to the richness of Hispanic literature and to expanding its English-language audience".
Honors a work in progress of general nonfiction distinguished by high literary quality by a woman at the midpoint in her career. Presented every 2 years.
To a U.S. resident "who has fought courageously, despite adversity, to safeguard the First Amendment right to freedom of expression as it applies to the written word." The award succeeded the PEN/Newman's Own First Amendment Award
To a U.S. resident who "fought courageously, despite adversity, to safeguard the First Amendment right to freedom of expression as it applies to the written word."
Awards presented in 12 categories: Lifetime Achievement, Award of Honor, Freedom to Write, First Amendment, Award of Merit, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Research Nonfiction, Poetry, Children's and Young Adult Literature, Translation, Journalism, Drama, Teleplay, Screenplay, UC Press Exceptional First Book Award.
Recognizes a writer persecuted for the peaceful expression of their views and whose courage in the face of censorship and oppression is exemplary.
(?)
Active
Susan P. Bloom Children's Book Discovery Award[20]
Given to a New England resident for an unpublished work in one of four categories of children’s literature: picture books, novels, poetry, and nonfiction.
To one individual and one organization whose commitment to a culture of literature and the free and open exchange of ideas personifies PEN’s core mission.
In order to "promote works of excellence by writers of all cultural and racial backgrounds and to educate both the public and the media as to the nature of multi-cultural work."
Honors authors of literature of conscience who may have suffered censorship, efforts to discredit or failure to distribute/review their work based on philosophical or cultural content.
Awarded annually to a British writer or a writer resident in Britain of outstanding literary merit who, in the words of Harold Pinter’s Nobel speech, casts an ‘unflinching, unswerving’ gaze upon the world, and shows a ‘fierce intellectual determination … to define the real truth of our lives and our societies’.
Awarded annually for a non-fiction book of specifically historical content. Entrants, which may include first British translations, are to be books of high literary merit – that is, not primarily written for the academic market – and can cover all historical periods up to and including the Second World War.
To a literary autobiography of excellence, written by an author of British nationality and published during the preceding year, for which it is felt that J.R. Ackerley would have expressed enthusiasm.
^"David T.K.Wong Prize". Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 2012-09-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
