2009 PEN/Faulkner Winner Announced
Joseph O'Neill's Post-9/11 Novel Netherland Takes Top Honors
Feb 28, 2009
On February 25, 2009 the PEN/Faulkner winner for fiction was announced. The 29th annual recipient of this prestigious award is Joseph O'Neill for his post-9/11 novel, Netherland. O'Neill will now join the ranks of other well-respected writers such as E. L. Doctorow, Tobias Wolff, Alice McDermott, Philip Roth, Don DeLillo and Joyce Carol Oates.
2009 PEN/Faulkner Finalists
O'Neill beat out an eclectic mix of writers and their respective works. This year there were over 350 submissions of novels and short stories all competing for a place in the top-spot. Here is a run-down of the four finalists for the 2009 PEN/Faulkner award for fiction:
- Ms. Hempel Chronicles by Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum
- A Person of Interest by Susan Choi
- Lush Life by Richard Price
- Serena by Ron Rash
O'Neill will be formally presented with the award on May 9 during the 29th Annual PEN/Faulkner Award Ceremony held at Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. He will also receive a monetary award of $15,000, with each of the four finalists receiving $5,000.
A Brief History of the PEN/Faulkner Award
The PEN/Faulkner Foundation was organized in 1980 as a way to recognize and award young fiction writers. It is named after legendary fiction writer, William Faulkner, and according to the Foundation's official website, it strives to "bring together American readers and writers in a wide variety of programs to promote a love of literature."
Joseph O'Neill's Netherland Takes This Year's Award for Fiction
A mix of immigrant story and homage to New York, Jospeh O'Neill's Netherland is a novel that, according to PEN/Faulkner judge Randall Kenan, serves as "an emblem for our time."
O'Neill's third novel, Netherland, was met with much critical acclaim upon its publication in May 2008. It landed on the cover of The New York TImes Book Review, in addition to being named by the Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2008.
The novel introduces readers to the narrator, Hans van den Broek, as he observes his friend, Chuck Ramkissoon's life. Hans and Chuck's friendship is based upon their mutual love for the game of cricket, which also becomes a prevalent theme in the novel. Chuck encompasses the immigrant character perfectly, as the ambitious entrepreneur trying to build a life for himself in a new country, while Hans and his family are struggling to rebuild their lives in New York after 9/11. Netherland strives to bridge the gap between the characters' internal conflicts and their passion for the sport of cricket.
For more information about this year's winner as well as a comprehensive lists of the winners and finalists for the past 29 years, visit the PEN/Faulkner Foundation website.
 |
