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2022 National Book Award Winners

November 2022

mage of National Book Award winners Samanta Schweblin, Megan McDowell, and John Keene
From left: John Keene, Megan McDowell, and Samanta Schweblin

Read work by some of this year’s National Book Award winners—including Samanta Schweblin, Megan McDowell, and John Keene—from the Words Without Borders archives. 

Read work by some of this year’s National Book Award winners from the Words Without Borders archives. Author Samanta Schweblin and translator Megan McDowell were awarded the National Book Award for Translated Literature for Seven Empty Houses, and John Keene was awarded the National Book Award for Poetry for his collection Punks: New and Selected Poems. 

Portraits of Samanta Schweblin and Megan McDowell
Left: Samanta Schweblin, photo by Alejandra Lopez; Right: Megan McDowell, photo by Camila Valdés
The National Book Award Interviews: Samanta Schweblin & Megan McDowell
By Words Without Borders
“I’m always a little amazed at the subtlety of Samanta’s language, how much she can convey in so few words—that hasn’t changed over all the books of hers I’ve translated.”
Preserves
By Samanta Schweblin
It’s difficult to accept the idea of receiving Teresita so soon, but I don’t want to hurt her, either.
Translated from Spanish by Joel Streicker
Another Country: Afro-Brazilian Writing, Past and Present
By Eric M. B. Becker & John Keene
If the literature of a country with the second largest black population worldwide (only Nigeria has a larger black population) does not include that population in its literature, one must ask which Brazil we’re speaking of when we speak of Brazilian…
In Aflitos
By Jean Wyllys
She was furious! She grew silent again, went upstairs, and searched the nightstand. The pistol was there.
Translated from Portuguese by John Keene
Four Poems
By Cristiane Sobral
Time, lord of the hours / reigns sovereign
Translated from Portuguese by John Keene
Multilingual