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The 2010 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is awarded to Sherman Joseph Alexie Jr. for his book entitled “War Dances.” Alexie becomes the first Native American author to win the prize.
The stories of War Dances revolve around the complexities of fatherhood. In the title story, Alexie recalls attending the funeral of his father for whom he was named and finds himself staring down at his own tombstone. As quoted in Oprah magazine, War Dances is Alexie’s fiercely freewheeling collection of stories and poems about the tragicomedies of ordinary lives.
Alexie received $15,000 while the four finalists: Barbara Kingsolver for “The Lacuna” (Harper); Colson Whitehead for “Sag Harbor”; Lorraine M. Lopez for “Homicide Survivors Picnic And Other Stories”; and Lorrie Moore for ” Gate at The Stairs” received $5,000.
2010 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction winners will be awarded on the 30th anniversary of PEN/Faulkner Award Ceremony at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. on May 8, 2010.
