The O. Henry Prize Stories

The O. Henry Prize Stories
Name	The O. Henry Prize Stories
Description	Annual anthology of short stories
Country	United States
Presenter	Anchor Books, Doubleday, Random House
First awarded	1919

The O. Henry Prize Stories is an annual anthology of short stories that showcases the best of American and Canadian fiction, as selected by the Editorial Board of Anchor Books. The series has been published continuously since 1919, with the first edition featuring stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner. Over the years, the anthology has included works by renowned authors such as Toni Morrison, John Updike, and Alice Munro. The prize is named after the celebrated American writer O. Henry, known for his witty and insightful short stories, often published in The New Yorker and Harper's Magazine.

Introduction

The O. Henry Prize Stories has a long history of recognizing and promoting emerging and established writers, including Jhumpa Lahiri, George Saunders, and Lorrie Moore. The anthology is often compared to other prestigious literary awards, such as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, which have also recognized the work of authors like Michael Chabon and Jennifer Egan. The series has been edited by notable literary figures, including Laura Furman and Heather McHugh, who have also contributed to publications like The Paris Review and The New York Times Book Review. The O. Henry Prize Stories has also featured stories that have been adapted into films, such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, directed by Ben Stiller and starring Kristen Wiig.

History

The O. Henry Prize Stories was first published in 1919 by Doubleday, with the goal of showcasing the best of American short fiction, as seen in the works of authors like Edith Wharton and Theodore Dreiser. The series was named after O. Henry, who was known for his humorous and poignant short stories, often published in McClure's Magazine and The Saturday Evening Post. Over the years, the anthology has undergone several changes in editorial leadership, including the tenure of Martha Foley, who also edited The Best American Short Stories series, featuring authors like Raymond Carver and Joyce Carol Oates. The series has also been published by Random House and Anchor Books, which have also published works by authors like Don DeLillo and Cynthia Ozick.

Selection Process

The selection process for The O. Henry Prize Stories involves a rigorous review of short stories published in American and Canadian literary magazines, such as The Atlantic Monthly and Granta, which have also featured authors like Zadie Smith and David Foster Wallace. A panel of judges, including Laura Furman and Heather McHugh, reviews the stories and selects the winners, who are often recognized for their innovative and insightful writing, as seen in the works of authors like Junot Díaz and Alice Walker. The judges also consider stories that have been published in other anthologies, such as The Best American Short Stories and The Pushcart Prize, which have featured authors like Richard Ford and Amy Hempel. The selection process is designed to recognize a wide range of literary styles and themes, from the realistic fiction of authors like Richard Yates to the experimental fiction of authors like Thomas Pynchon.

Notable Winners

The O. Henry Prize Stories has recognized many notable authors over the years, including Toni Morrison, who won the prize in 1978 for her story "Recitatif", and John Updike, who won the prize in 1960 for his story "The Happiest I've Been". Other notable winners include Alice Munro, who won the prize in 1977 for her story "Royal Beatings", and Lorrie Moore, who won the prize in 1998 for her story "People Like That Are the Only People Here". The prize has also recognized emerging writers, such as Jhumpa Lahiri, who won the prize in 1999 for her story "Interpreter of Maladies", and George Saunders, who won the prize in 1997 for his story "The Falls". These authors have also been recognized by other literary awards, such as the National Book Critics Circle Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award, which have also honored authors like Michael Cunningham and Andrea Barrett.

Impact and Influence

The O. Henry Prize Stories has had a significant impact on American literature, recognizing and promoting the work of emerging and established writers, and influencing the development of the short story form, as seen in the works of authors like Joyce Carol Oates and John Cheever. The anthology has also been widely reviewed and discussed in literary circles, with many critics and scholars analyzing the stories and their themes, as seen in publications like The New York Review of Books and The London Review of Books. The prize has also been recognized by other literary organizations, such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the PEN American Center, which have also supported the work of authors like Don DeLillo and Margaret Atwood. The O. Henry Prize Stories has also been compared to other prestigious literary awards, such as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, which have also recognized the work of authors like Jennifer Egan and Jonathan Franzen.

Editions and Publication

The O. Henry Prize Stories is published annually by Anchor Books, with each edition featuring a selection of the best short stories from American and Canadian literary magazines, such as The New Yorker and Harper's Magazine. The series has been edited by notable literary figures, including Laura Furman and Heather McHugh, who have also contributed to publications like The Paris Review and The New York Times Book Review. The anthology is widely available in bookstores and online, and has been recognized by literary critics and scholars as a leading showcase for American short fiction, alongside other notable anthologies like The Best American Short Stories and The Pushcart Prize. The series has also been published in e-book format, making it accessible to a wider range of readers, including those who follow authors like George Saunders and Lorrie Moore on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

Category:Literary awards