The Haitian-American writer Edwidge Danticat, born January 19, 1969 in Port-au-Prince, has been named laureate of the Neustadt 2018 International Prize for Literature. This prize includes 50,000 US dollars, a silver replica of a feather of eagle and a certificate.

The announcement was made at a reception at the University of Oklahoma, where the World Literature Today, the university's award-winning magazine of international literature and culture, is located. The Neustadt International Literature Prize is awarded alternately with the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature.

Let's recall that Danticat is the author of stories, essays, film scripts and novels "In addition to the Pushcart Prize, the National Book Review Club Award, the BOCAS Award and the Medal of Excellence in fiction Andrew Carnegie, Danticat won a MacArthur Scholarship and holds two honorary degrees.

Her first novel, "Breath, Eyes, Memory" in 1994 was chosen as an "Oprah Book Club Selection" in May 1998. "Danticat is experimenting with form and structure and frequently refers to the literary history of Haiti and Caribbean," says the statement "She paints scenes of immigrant life in New York and Miami with details and a palpable familiarity."

Robert Con Davis-Undiano, Executive Director of "World Literature Today," said "Danticat is a master writer whose latest work promises even more height."

The Neustadt Prize is the first international literary prize of its scale to have been created in the United States, it is one of the only international awards available for poets, novelists and playwrights. Any living author writing anywhere in the world is eligible for this prestigious award. The jury is composed of acclaimed international authors.

HL/ HaitiLibre