William Faulkner Foundation Awards: Supporting Emerging Literary Talent
The William Faulkner Foundation established two distinct literary awards with a shared core mission: to champion and support young writers. Unlike the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction or the William Faulkner Prize, these specific foundation awards were designed to identify raw talent and bridge linguistic gaps in global literature.
The William Faulkner Foundation Award for Notable First Novel
The Award for Notable First Novel was rooted in the belief that young writers are best understood and evaluated by their peers. To uphold this philosophy, the foundation appointed young faculty members from the University of Virginia to serve as judges. This ensured that the evaluation process remained aligned with the perspectives of the emerging generation of authors.
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The Ibero-American Award and Cultural Diplomacy
The Ibero-American award was born from a 1961 visit to Venezuela by William Faulkner. This trip was part of a cultural diplomacy effort—the use of cultural exchanges to strengthen political and social ties—aimed at improving relations between the United States and Venezuela.
During his travels, Faulkner observed a significant gap in the English-speaking world's access to Latin American literature. He noted that many exceptional novels by young writers in the region remained untranslated. To remedy this, the foundation created an award to facilitate the translation of these works into English at the foundation's expense.
While initially intended for young writers, the eligibility age requirement was soon removed. The only remaining criterion was that the novel must have been published after World War II. The judging panel consisted of individuals from across Latin America to ensure regional authenticity.
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Key Facts
- Purpose: To support young writers and promote Latin American literature in English.
- Judging: The First Novel award was judged by young University of Virginia faculty.
- Ibero-American Criteria: Novels had to be published after World War II.
- Translation: The Ibero-American award funded the English translation of the winning novel.
- Diplomacy: The Ibero-American award was inspired by a 1961 diplomatic trip to Venezuela.
Award Winners and Recognized Works
Notable First Novel Winners
The following authors received the award in the year listed for books published in the preceding year:
- 1961: John Knowles, A Separate Peace
- 1962: Lawrence Sargent Hall, Stowaway
- 1963: Reynolds Price, A Long and Happy Life
- 1964: Thomas Pynchon, V.
- 1965: Charles Simmons, Powdered Eggs
- 1966: Cormac McCarthy, The Orchard Keeper
- 1967: Robert Coover, The Origin of the Brunists
- 1968: Frederick Exley, A Fan's Notes
- 1969: Robert Stone, A Hall of Mirrors
- 1970: Larry Woiwode, What I'm Going to Do, I Think
Ibero-American Award Recognition (1962)
In 1962, the award recognized a diverse array of talent across Latin America and the Caribbean.
| Author | Novel | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Eduardo Mallea | Los enemigos del alma | Argentina |
| Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz | Los deshabitados | Bolivia |
| Graciliano Ramos | Vidas Sêcas | Brazil |
| José Donoso | Coronación | Chile |
| Carlos Luis Fallas Sibaja | Marcos Ramírez | Costa Rica |
| Marcio Veloz Maggiolo | El Buen Ladrón | Dominican Republic |
| Miguel Angel Asturias | El Señor Presidente | Guatemala |
| Joaquín Beleño | Los Forzados de Gamboa | Panama |
| Roa Bastos | Hijo de hombre | Paraguay |
| José María Arguedas | Los ríos profundos | Peru |
| René Marqués | La vispera del hombre | Puerto Rico |
| Juan Carlos Onetti | El astillero | Uruguay |
| Emma Godoy | Érase un hombre pentafácico | Mexico |
| Ramón Díaz Sánchez | Cumboto | Venezuela |
Among the 1962 recipients, Cumboto by Ramón Díaz Sánchez was selected for English translation. Translated by John Upton, it was published by the University of Texas Press in 1969.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the William Faulkner Foundation Award differ from the PEN/Faulkner Award?
The William Faulkner Foundation Award described here is a distinct entity from the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the William Faulkner Prize.
Who judged the Award for Notable First Novel?
The award was judged by young faculty members at the University of Virginia, based on Faulkner's belief that young people are best equipped to judge the work of young writers.
What was the primary goal of the Ibero-American award?
The goal was to identify excellent novels by Latin American writers and have them translated into English to make them accessible to a wider audience.
What were the eligibility requirements for the Ibero-American award?
Although originally intended for young writers, the age limit was abolished. The only requirement was that the novel must have been published after World War II.
Which Ibero-American novel was translated into English through this award?
The novel Cumboto by Ramón Díaz Sánchez was selected for translation; the English version by John Upton was published in 1969 by the University of Texas Press.