Louise Erdrich to be awarded Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction

Congratulations to Louise Erdrich. Her work is getting a great deal of attention around the country. Finally.

Here is a great quote from Librarian of Congress James Billington about why Erdrich was chosen for this award:

Librarian of Congress James Billington said in a statement that Erdrich’s novels have uniquely explored the cultural challenges faced by Native Americans and mixed-race Americans.

“[H]er prose manages to be at once lyrical and gritty, magical yet unsentimental, connecting a dreamworld of Ojibwe legend to stark realities of the modern-day,” Billington said. “And yet, for all the bracing originality of her work, her fiction is deeply rooted in the American literary tradition.”

Link to news articles here and here.