From the director of the Frankfurter Buchmesse to the founder of a Thai publishing house and a Norwegian publisher who was shot in Oslo: sharp cautionary remarks about self-censorship and its dangers.

 

This year's shortlist includes two debut novels. The winner receives a prize of US$50,000, and the prize will cover the cost of translating the winning title into English.

 

PEN America's annual raft of awards honors both single titles and bodies of work, is worth nearly US$350,000. Among this year's winners are Edmund White, Edna O'Brien, and Ursula K. Le Guin.