PEN/Faulkner Reading Series: Dagoberto Gilb

One of the most enjoyable literary events I've attended in Washington took place at the Folger Shakespeare Library on Capitol Hill. It was the Annual PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Ceremony, sponsored by the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. This annual gala-like event is a fundraiser, and it consists hearing the five finalists for the PEN/Faulkner Award read. But before each of them take the stage, the judges take turns giving each of them a substantial introduction, which includes talking about the finalists' work. I went a two years ago when one of the finalists was Lorraine López.

Since then I've tried to get to more of their events and have attended, on average, about two or three a year. I'll be attending this coming Monday to hear someone for the first time: Dagoberto Gilb. He'll be joined by Benjamin Percy.

Dagoberto Gilb

A couple of years ago, Gilb had a story published in the New Yorker. A week before it appeared, an interview with him also appeared in its pages.

So....if you live in the Washington, D.C. area, or you know someone who lives in the Washington, D.C. area, please consider letting them know about this top tier literary event.