We in the Literary Initiatives office at the Library of Congress are thrilled to announce some big, happy news!
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today that the 2024 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction will be awarded to James McBride.
One of the Library’s most prestigious awards, the annual Prize for American Fiction honors an American literary writer whose body of work is distinguished not only for its mastery of the art but also for its originality of thought and imagination.
“I’m honored to bestow the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction on a writer as imaginative and knowing as James McBride,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said. “McBride knows the American soul deeply, reflecting our struggles and triumphs in his fiction, which so many readers have intimately connected with. I, also, am one of his enthusiastic readers.”
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The award seeks to commend strong, unique, enduring voices that — throughout consistently accomplished careers — have told us something essential about the American experience.
“I wish my mom were still alive to know about this,” McBride said. “I’m delighted and honored. Does it mean I can use the Library? If so, I’m double thrilled.”
James McBride is the author of the bestselling novel “Deacon King Kong;” “The Good Lord Bird,” winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction; “The Color of Water;” “Song Yet Sung;” the story collection “Five-Carat Soul;” and the James Brown biography “Kill ’Em and Leave.” His debut novel, “Miracle at St. Anna,” was turned into a 2008 film.
In 2016, McBride was awarded the National Humanities Medal. He is also a musician, a composer and a current distinguished writer-in-residence at New York University. McBride’s most recent bestselling novel, “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” which received the 2023 Kirkus Prize for Fiction and was named Barnes & Noble’s 2023 Book of the Year, will be featured at the 2024 Library of Congress National Book Festival. McBride will discuss the novel and his career on the Main Stage at the National Book Festival this year.
The 2024 Library of Congress National Book Festival will take place on Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will hear conversations that reflect their lived experiences and stories, with presentations for every type of reader. A selection of programs will be livestreamed, and recordings of all presentations can be viewed online following the festival. This year’s festival theme is “Books Build Us Up.”
For more information on the prize, including previous winners, visit https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/prizes/fiction-prize/.
Comments (5)
Reading the book James McBride’s “The Color of Water” has had the most indelible — and wonderful — impact upon my life, and it is very moving to see that he and his work are being honored.
James mcbride
Is my favorite author
His novels are deep instinctive
Empathetic sensitivity written
His characters are alive
And live in your mind
Dialogue is awesome
I would love to meet him
Wonderful news. His skill is just astonishing and this last book was a satisfying wonder – characters, stories, beautiful depictions of community dynamics and his insights about the human heart. Brilliant.
Wonderful writer, wonderful books. I recommend to every reader I meet.
Mr. McBride deserves this honor so much. Just when I think his books can’t get better, the next one is better than the last. I love your great, big heart, Mr. McBride.