The PEN literary award is presented to “an important writer whose work has drawn a wide audience and who helps us understand the human condition in original and powerful ways.” And this year, the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award will be given to author Zadie Smith, 46, making her the youngest-ever recipient of the award.
“Zadie Smith’s impact cannot be understated... She is not just one of contemporary fiction’s most groundbreaking voices, but also amongst our most insightful critical minds. Her considerable influence only seems to grow ever more far-reaching with time,” Ayad Akhtar, PEN America President, said in a statement on March 11, 2022.
