Nicole Krauss is the winner of the first-ever Sami Rohr Inspiration Award for Fiction.
The Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature announced on Tuesday that Krauss, author of the novels The History of Love and Great House, was the inaugural winner of the prize. The new award “recognizes a well-known author whose books have made a valuable contribution to Jewish literature and who will serve as a role model to Fellows of the Sami Rohr Jewish Literary Institute.”
“I’m so grateful and touched to be the first recipient of the Sami Rohr Inspiration Award Prize for Fiction,” Krauss said in a statement. “As a writer, I have never understood my own relationship to inspiration, or even what inspiration truly is. But despite that uncertainty—or because of it—it is deeply moving to think that my books have inspired others. There is nothing more rewarding than that.”
Krauss’ latest book, the story collection To Be a Man, was published last year. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called it “a tremendous collection from an immensely talented writer.”
Among the judges for the award was Kirkus fiction editor Laurie Muchnick. In an essay, Muchnick praised “Krauss’ thoughtful, intelligent work.”
Krauss will be presented with the award, which comes with a $36,000 cash prize, at an online ceremony in June.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
