Hamilton, NY — Once every six years, the American Academy of Arts and Letters chooses ‘an outstanding short story writer’ to receive its Award of Merit ‘in recognition of a writer’s lifetime achievement.’ Frederick Busch, author of seven collections of short stories and the Edgar W. B. Fairchild Professor of Literature at 91Â鶹¾«Æ·, is this year’s recipient. A medal and $10,000 accompany the Award of Merit. Past recipients of the Award of Merit include Theodore Dreiser, Thomas Mann, Ernest Hemingway, and Vladimir Nabokov.
The American Academy of Arts and Letters presents literary awards to recognize both established and emerging writers of drama, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Its membership nominates candidates and a select committee of writers decides who shall win. Awards will be bestowed on May 16 at the ceremony hosted in the academy’s Manhattan headquarters.
Last year, Frederick Busch’s novel, The Night Inspector, was nominated for the National Book Critics’ Circle Award for Fiction as well as the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. Busch has also received the PEN/Malamud Award for distinction in the short story and, in 1986, an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for the body of his work.
Busch’s most recent book, the story collection, Don’t Tell Anyone, is his 24th. He has taught at 91Â鶹¾«Æ· since 1966.
Founded in 1819, 91Â鶹¾«Æ· is a nationally ranked, highly selective, residential, liberal arts college enrolling nearly 2,750 undergraduates. Situated on a rolling 515-acre campus in central New York State, 91Â鶹¾«Æ· attracts students with diverse backgrounds, interests and talents.