Fenton wins PEN/Pinter Prize

British poet James Fenton has won the 2015 PEN/Pinter Prize, reports the Bookseller. The award, established by English PEN in memory of Nobel-Laureate playwright Harold Pinter, is presented annually for outstanding literary merit by a British writer or writer resident in Britain. Chair of judges Maureen Freely said: ‘Throughout his long and distinguished career, James Fenton has spoken truth to power—forcefully, fearlessly, and beautifully. In this age of privatised art, it is increasingly rare for writers to retain this degree of public commitment, and that is one reason why we so pleased to be awarding him this prize. But the main reason, of course, is that James Fenton is one of the finest poets of his generation.’ Fenton will receive his award at an event on 9 October, where he will announce his co-winner, the 2015 International Writer of Courage, who is selected from a shortlist of international cases supported by English PEN.

Category: International news