The fiction collections of the Library of Congress comprise large bodies of writing, both American and international. The Library's Manuscript Division houses original manuscripts and other documents such as correspondence of many American fiction writers, such as Herman Melville and Mark Twain. The division also has significant collections of the works of Ralph Ellison, Bernard Malamud and Philip Roth -- all of whom have won the National Book Award.
Ralph Ellison
Ralph Ellison is most famous for his 1952 masterpiece, "Invisible Man." Although he never published another novel in his lifetime, he is nonetheless regarded as one of America's greatest novelists. For many years, Ellison worked on a second, long piece of fiction, which he never completed; it finally appeared after his death in 1994 as “Juneteenth.”
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Philip Roth
Philip Roth achieved critical acclaim with his first published work, "Goodbye, Columbus." Ten years later, in 1969, he gained literary as well as widespread commercial success with "Portnoy's Complaint." Roth continues to this day as a prolific and highly regarded writer focusing on the Jewish-American experience, racism, politics and other current topics.
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Bernard Malamud
Bernard Malamud's first published novel, "The Natural" (1952) provided him with immediate success, and it remains today one of his best-loved novels and one of the best novels ever written about baseball. Malamud's work touched on a wide range of topics, such as anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia ("The Fixer") and the plight of the urban poor ("The Magic Barrel").
In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the National Book Awards, the Center for the Book is sponsoring a program, "Fiction at the Library of Congress" on Oct. 23. Read more »
Who is your favorite author?
Faulkner? O'Connor? Cheever?
The National Book Foundation is sponsoring a contest to name the "Best of the National Book Awards," which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Vote here
Julia Alvarez, author of "Return to Sender"
