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| David Baldacci | |
Author and philanthropist David Baldacci has been selected as the 2024 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion, an annual commendation that recognizes a lifetime of devoted literary advocacy and a commitment to inspiring new generations of readers and writers. Baldacci will accept his award, along with this year's PEN/Faulkner Award winner and finalists, in a celebration to be held Washington, D.C., on May 2.
"David Baldacci, whose novels have captivated millions of readers worldwide, has been a paragon of service to the literary community," said executive director Gwydion Suilebhan. "PEN/Faulkner is dedicated to the idea that fiction creates empathy within and among communities and advances civil discourse, and Baldacci's devoted philanthropic work in promoting literacy has ensured that countless Americans have access to those possibilities."
Baldacci commented: "Like most writers, I was greatly influenced from an early age by books. Books take us out of our comfort zones, and encourage us to see the world from other perspectives. Reading increases empathy--perhaps the finest of all human qualities--and the ability to read is a powerful tool against homelessness, hunger, and poverty. Thus, when someone tells you that books are magical, believe them. I am thrilled and honored to accept this award from PEN/Faulkner, an organization that stands for everything I believe in about the miraculous power of words."
The PEN/Faulkner Foundation created the PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion in 2020, on the occasion of the organization's 40th anniversary. The inaugural recipient, recognized in 2021, was LeVar Burton, followed in 2022 by Oprah Winfrey and in 2023 by Terry Gross.