Anthony Doerr has won the $20,000 Story Prize for his collection Memory Wall, a book of six stories set in locales around the globe and sharing memory as a key element. Memory Wall is his fourth book and second short story collection.
The judges commented: "It is the shimmering space between the two planes of reality and memory that Doerr captures with immense sensitivity. He is adept at evoking a variety of places and different times in history, conjuring sharp settings in which the fragility of his characters is played out. The diversity of backgrounds underscores his poetic skill at illustrating his themes of emotional distancing and the resilience of hope. While he displays a rare imagination in the handling of his subjects, he maintains a beautiful and quiet grace in his precise, spare style, providing a harmonious resonance to all of the stories."
The other finalists for the Story Prize were Yiyun Li, author of Gold Boy, Emerald Girl, and Suzanne Rivecca, author of Death Is Not an Option. Each received $5,000.
All three finalists read and were interviewed by Story Prize director Larry Dark at an event Tuesday night in New York City. Story Prize founder Julie Lindsey announced the winner.
The judges commented: "It is the shimmering space between the two planes of reality and memory that Doerr captures with immense sensitivity. He is adept at evoking a variety of places and different times in history, conjuring sharp settings in which the fragility of his characters is played out. The diversity of backgrounds underscores his poetic skill at illustrating his themes of emotional distancing and the resilience of hope. While he displays a rare imagination in the handling of his subjects, he maintains a beautiful and quiet grace in his precise, spare style, providing a harmonious resonance to all of the stories."
The other finalists for the Story Prize were Yiyun Li, author of Gold Boy, Emerald Girl, and Suzanne Rivecca, author of Death Is Not an Option. Each received $5,000.
All three finalists read and were interviewed by Story Prize director Larry Dark at an event Tuesday night in New York City. Story Prize founder Julie Lindsey announced the winner.