The Story of a Brief Marriage by Anuk Arudpragasam has won the 2017 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. He received the $25,000 prize and award at the Dhaka Lit Fest in Bangladesh. (The book was published in the U.S. by Flatiron Books.)
The organizers commented: "Told in meditative, nuanced and powerful prose, this shattering novel marks the arrival of an extraordinary new literary voice." And speaking for the jury, Ritu Menon said, "The novel is impressive for its intensity and rich detail, and for exploring the tragic heart of war with such quiet eloquence. It is also a testament to the redemptive power of love, and to the human spirit’s capacity for hope."
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The winners and honorable mentions of the National Outdoor Book Awards are:
Outdoor Literature:
A Fly Rod of Your Own by John Gierach (Simon & Schuster)
On Trails: An Exploration by Robert Moor (Simon & Schuster)
Outdoor Literature honorable mention: No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer and Buddy Levy (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's)
History/Biography: Art of Freedom: The Life and Climbs of Voytek Kurtyka by Bernadette McDonald (Rocky Mountain Books)
Natural History Literature: Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean by Jonathan White (Trinity University Press)
Children's: Pup the Sea Otter by Jonathan London, illustrated by Sean London (WestWinds Press/Graphic Arts Books)
Children's honorable mention: Treecology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Trees and Forests by Monica Russo, photographs by Kevin Byron (Chicago Review Press)
Nature and the Environment: Monarchs and Milkweed by Anurag Agrawal (Princeton University Press)
Nature and the Environment honorable mention: The Pipestone Wolves: The Rise and Fall of a Wolf Family by Günther Bloch, photography by John E. Marriott (Rocky Mountain Books)
Design and Artistic Merit: Wild Encounters: Iconic Photographs of the World's Vanishing Animals and Cultures, photography and commentary by David Yarrow (Rizzoli)
Classic: Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder by Kenn Kaufman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Instructional:
Backpacker Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike by Liz Thomas (Falcon Guides)
Big Walls, Swift Waters: Epic Stories from Yosemite Search and Rescue by Charles R. "Butch" Farabee (Yosemite Conservancy)
Nature Guidebooks:
The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles by Mike Krebill (St. Lynn's Press)
Butterflies of Pennsylvania: A Field Guide by James L. Monroe and David M. Wright (University of Pittsburgh Press)
Outdoor Adventure Guidebooks: Outdoor Adventures, Acadia National Park: Your Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking and Paddling by Jerry and Marcy Monkman (Appalachian Mountain Club)