Photo Credit: One World
Victor Lavalle was among five writers shortlisted for this year’s Dos Passos Award, according to a recent announcement by the university in charge of the prize. The creator behind AppleTV’s “The Changeling” was chosen alongside American Chicano heavyweight Luis Alberto Urrea and the celebrated author of the critically acclaimed “Dominicana”, Angie Cruz.
John Dos Passos, pictured here, is remembered for his work highlighting life in post-WWI USA. Photo Source: Longwood University
The annual Dos Passos Award is in its 43rd year and is named after legendary author John Dos Passos. Of Portuguese descent and celebrated for works such as the U.S.A trilogy, Dos Passos was renowned for his ability to capture the hopes and dashed dreams of America post-WWI. According to Longwood University, which administers the award, it was named in honor of the late author to commemorate his often forgotten literary achievements “by recognizing other writers in his name.”
Angie Cruz is the author of “Dominicana” and “How Not To Drown In A Glass Of Water”. Photo Credit: Erika Morillo
In addition to Cruz, Urrea and Lavalle, Carter Sickels and Peter Rock were also nominated for the prestigious prize. The university announced that the winner of the award would be named next month.
Lavalle’s longlist of titles include “The Changeling”, “Lone Women”, and “Slapboxing with Jesus”. Beyond prose, the New York native has also written comics such as “Wolverine: Sabretooth” with Marvel and “Victor Lavalle’s Destroyer”.
Urrea was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for “The Devil’s Highway”. Photo Source: luisurrea.com
Offering stiff competition is the celebrated Californian Urrea, who has earned acclaim as a writer of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. “The Devil’s Highway”, “The House of Broken Angels” and “Good Night, Irene,” are just a few of his most popular titles. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2005.
The five shortlisted authors join a prestigious list of nominees dating back to the first Dos Passos prize winner, Graham Green. Winners in the last 15 years include Sherman Alexie, Colson Whitehead, and Rabih Alameddine. The prize jury is headed by the chair of Longwood University’s Department of English and Modern Languages.
Ismael David Mujahid, Executive Editor