MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
November 15- November 22, 2007 Edition
Denis Johnson
Wins National Book
Award for War Novel
NEW YORK, NY/11/15/07–Denis Johnson, currently on a magazine assignment in Iraq, was awarded the National Book Award last night for his Vietnam War novel, Tree of Smoke, published by Farrar, Strauss and Giroux (FSG). His wife, Cindy Johnson accepted the award in his behalf. Tim Weiner’s book on CIA history, Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, released by Doubleday, won the nonfiction award.
Robert Hass was given the poetry prize for Time and Materials, from Ecco/HarperCollins, and Sherman Alexie received the Young Peoples Literature Award for his first young adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, from Little, Brown. Alexie has written a number of adult novels.
Novelist and essayist Joan Didion was given the NBA 2007 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Terry Gross, producer of the NPR interview show Fresh Air, was awarded the Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.
The formal awards ceremony was held November 14 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
