National Book Foundation Announces Lifetime Achievement Awards

Posted on September 12, 2007

The National Book Foundation announced that it will present its 2007 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters to bestselling novelist Joan Didion, author of The Year of Magical Thinking. The award recognizes her lifetime of work as a novelist and essayist. The Year of Magical Thinking won the National Book Award in 2005.

Terry Gross of NPR's Fresh Air will receive The Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community. Harold Augenbraum, executive director of the Foundation, said, "These two women are icons in the literary world and their contributions are now legendary - Joan Didion as one of the keenest observers and finest prose stylists of our time and Terry Gross as one of the most intelligent voices on the airwaves and one of the few who devotes hundreds of hours a year to talking about books and literature. Both women are fearless in their questioning and their insights on the page and on the air have informed our understanding of America and of America's writers for decades. Our Board of Directors is honored that they will accept these awards and grace our gala with their presence."

The 58th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner will take place on November 14, 2007, in New York City. Writer and humorist Fran Lebowitz will be the host.