It has been
announced that she is this year’s recipient of the Franz Kafka Prize which is
given in recognition of the entirety of an author’s work. The prize is intended to “reward artistically
exceptional literary production of a contemporary author whose work addresses
readers regardless of their origin, nationality, or culture, like the work of
Franz Kafka.” Atwood is to receive the
award in Prague this October at the traditional award ceremony in Old Town
Hall, where she’ll be given the main symbol of the prize, a bronze statuette of
the city’s Franz Kafka monument. She’ll also receive $10,000 (US). (http://www.franzkafka-soc.cz/cena-franze-kafky/)
Atwood has also
won Germany's 2017 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for her "political
intuition and a deeply perceptive ability to detect dangerous and underlying
developments." The €25,000 (approx.
$37,000 CAN) prize honours those who "reflect the German book trade's
commitment to the promotion of international understanding." The prize is
funded entirely by donations from booksellers and publishers. "Humanity, justice and tolerance are the
unvarying characteristics of Atwood's work," a statement from the Board of
Trustees of the prize said. "Through her, we experience who we are, where
we stand and what responsibilities we carry with regard to ourselves and our
peaceful coexistence with others." Atwood
will receive the award on Oct. 15, 2017 at the Frankfurt Book Fair. (http://www.cbc.ca/books/2017/06/margaret-atwood-takes-home-37k-german-peace-prize.html)
In
addition, Atwood is being awarded a lifetime achievement award from the PEN
Center USA for her "visionary" storytelling and remarkable body of
work. "Throughout her career, Ms.
Atwood has vividly explored elements of the human experience - power,
oppression, complacency, language - expertly and with such conviction,"
said Michelle Franke, executive director of PEN Center USA. "Her body of work is to the bone,
sometimes visionary in its presentation of the past, present and futures
foretold. How has she done this? By writing with a kind of knowing, an
unflinching trust in historical cycles."
Atwood will accept this latest honour at a literary awards festival in
October. (http://www.cbc.ca/books/2017/06/margaret-atwood-to-receive-pen-center-lifetime-achievement-award.html)
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