More award news – and further proof that Philip Roth doesn’t actually win everything he’s nominated for: Chinua Achebe has won the Man Booker International Prize. From Bloomberg (”Nigerian Author Achebe Wins Man Booker International,” by James Pressley):
June 13 (Bloomberg) — Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe, the author of “Things Fall Apart” and “Anthills of the Savannah,” won the Man Booker International Prize, defeating an illustrious list of contenders including Ian McEwan, Carlos Fuentes, Philip Roth and Salman Rushdie.
First bestowed on the Albanian writer Ismail Kadare in 2005, the 60,000 pound ($118,600) prize is awarded every two years to recognize “a living author who has contributed significantly to world literature.”
A three-judge panel including South African author Nadine Gordimer honored Achebe, 76, for inaugurating the modern African novel, citing the many writers inspired by his depictions of how colonialism influenced culture and civilization on the continent.
It’s been a good week for Nigerian letters.
