Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Kingsolver is set to receive a prestigious honor. On Friday, September 5, the National Book Foundation announced that Kingsolver, renowned for her novel *Demon Copperhead*, will be awarded the 2024 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
At 68, Kingsolver will accept this lifetime achievement award during the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner on November 20. She will be recognized for her extensive body of work, which includes contributions to fiction, nonfiction, investigative journalism, poetry, and science writing.
Kingsolver, who will be featured at the international literature festival Lit.Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia on March 12, 2024, has had a profound impact on literature. According to David Steinberger, chair of the National Book Foundation's Board of Directors, “Barbara Kingsolver’s exceptional writing and authenticity, spanning multiple genres, has inspired generations of writers and readers.”
“Her books, translated into numerous languages, have significantly shaped both national and global literary landscapes. We are honored to present her with this award on the 75th anniversary of the National Book Awards,” Steinberger said in a press release.
Kingsolver’s previous accolades include the 2000 National Humanities Medal, the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and recognition from the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, the James Beard Foundation, and the PEN/Faulkner Foundation.
Born in Annapolis, Maryland, raised in Kentucky, and now residing in southwestern Virginia, Kingsolver's diverse works include novels like *The Bean Trees* and *Unsheltered*, and nonfiction titles such as *Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike*.
In a statement, Ruth Dickey, executive director of the National Book Foundation, praised Kingsolver’s writing as a powerful tool for community activism. “Kingsolver’s work addresses complex issues of social justice, celebrates the natural world, and promotes progressive social change. Her writing illuminates environmental and social injustices and shares stories of her cherished Appalachia,” Dickey said.
The 75th National Book Awards Ceremony will take place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, where Kingsolver will accept the award from her agent, Sam Stoloff of the Frances Golden agency.
For more details about the ceremony and to register for the broadcast, visit the National Book Foundation’s website.
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