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| Walter Mosley (photo: Marcia Wilson) |
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The National Book Foundation will award the 2020 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters to Walter Mosley at the 71st National Book Awards Ceremony, which will be held online November 18 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Edwidge Danticat will introduce Mosley, who receives $10,000 and a medal.
Mosley has written more than 60 books across subject, genre and category. His 1990 debut novel, Devil in a Blue Dress, was the first in the mystery series featuring detective Easy Rawlins. Mosley's books have been translated into 25 languages, and he has won numerous awards, including an Edgar Award for Down the River unto the Sea, an O. Henry Award, the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award, a Grammy, several NAACP Image awards and PEN America's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, he received the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Describing Mosley as "a master of craft and narrative," NBF board chair David Steinberger said that "through his incredibly vibrant and diverse body of work, our literary heritage has truly been enriched. From mysteries to literary fiction to nonfiction, Mosley's talent and memorable characters have captivated readers everywhere, and the Foundation is proud to honor such an illustrious voice whose work will be enjoyed for years to come."
"Mosley is undeniably prolific, but what sets his work apart is his examination of both complex issues and intimate realities through the lens of characters in his fiction, as well as his accomplished historical narrative works and essays," said Lisa Lucas, NBF executive director. "His oeuvre and his lived experience are distinctly part of the American experience. And as such, his contributions to our culture make him more than worthy of the foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters."