Since 1963, the PEN America Literary Awards have honored outstanding voices in translation, fiction, poetry, science writing, essay, sports writing, biography, children’s literature, and drama.  With the help of their partners, PEN America confers over 20 distinct awards, fellowships, grants and prizes each year, awarding nearly $350,000 to writers and translators.

Check out 2023 longlists below — and stay tuned for the finalists and winners!

Jean Stein Award   |   Open Book Award   |   Short Story Collection   |   Debut Novel   |   Art of the Essay   |   Poetry Collection   |   Poetry in Translation   |   Translation Prize   |   Biography   |   Literary Science   |   Nonfiction

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Jean Stein Award

To a book-length work of any genre for its originality, merit, and impact, which has broken new ground by reshaping the boundaries of its form and signaling strong potential for lasting influence.

 

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Open Book Award

To an exceptional book-length work of any literary genre by an author of color.

 

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Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection

To an author whose debut collection of short stories represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise for future work.

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Hemingway Award for Debut Novel

To a debut novel of exceptional literary merit by an American author.

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Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay

For a seasoned writer whose collection of essays is an expansion on their corpus of work and preserves the distinguished art form of the essay.

 

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PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection

To a poet whose distinguished collection of poetry represents a notable and accomplished literary presence.
 

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PEN Award for Poetry in Translation

For a book-length translation of poetry from any language into English..

 

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PEN Translation Prize

For a book-length translation of prose from any language into English.

 

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Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography

For a distinguished biography of exceptional literary, narrative, and artistic merit, based on scrupulous research.
 

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E.O. Wilson Literary Science Award

For a book that exemplifies literary excellence on the subject of the physical or biological sciences and communicates complex scientific concepts to a lay audience.

 

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John Kenneth Gailbraith Award for Nonfiction

For a distinguished book of general nonfiction possessing notable literary merit and critical perspective that illuminates important contemporary issues.

 

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