Inside the “Oscars for Books,” the PEN America Literary Awards

The PEN America Literary Awards occupy a unique space in American letters: Though host Kal Penn said they’ve been described as “the Oscars for books,” the books honored are staunchly anti-commercial and often explicitly political. With the exception of Tina Fey, who received the PEN/Mike Nichols Writing for Performance Award, none of this year’s honorees are household names in mainstream America. Yet they are giants in the literary community, informing the sensibilities of those who read widely and deeply. Part awards show, part leadership summit, Thursday’s 2023 PEN America Literary Awards reckoned with a cultural moment where free speech in… Read Full Article