J’can Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison wins prestigious literature award
Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison
Latest News, News
March 6, 2018

J’can Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison wins prestigious literature award

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison was among a sterling group of writers announced by Yale University on Wednesday as being the 2018 recipients of the Windham-Campbell Prizes.

The eight recipients, honoured for their literary achievement or promise, will receive a US$165,000 individual prize to support their writing.

“This wonderful award will allow me precious time and space to continue my writing,” said Goodison, the current poet laureate of Jamaica.

“I am honoured; and I turn thanks on behalf of me and my people.”

Goodison’s books range from fiction, non-fiction to poetry, and include I Am Becoming My Mother; From Harvey River; Turn Thanks; To Us, All Flowers Are Roses; and Controlling the Silver. Goodison’s most recent, Collected Poems, was published by Carcanet last year.

The other recipients are: in drama, Lucas Hnath (United States) and Suzan-Lori Parks (United States); in non-fiction, Sarah Bakewell (United Kingdom) and Olivia Laing (United Kingdom); in fiction, John Keene (United States) and Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Uganda/United Kingdom); and in poetry, Lorna Goodison (Jamaica) and Cathy Park Hong (United States).

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