The 2001 Literature Fellowships

The Authors

* Translation Fellowship

These writers are a sampling of the 2001 winners in Poetry and Translation. This year the fellows come from 16 states and represent diverse literary aesthetics. Sometimes they present us with great beauty; sometimes they take us deep inside ourselves or to distant places we might never have experienced; always they experiment with the utility of language. From New York City paramedic Maggie Dubris's mythic tapestry of lyrical voices, to Virgil Suárez's evocative exploration of the immigrant experience, to Cheryl Burket's dark and stirring look at our modern world, these artists have limitless potential. No less important are the translators who bring the literary work of writers from countries around the world to an American audience. John Oliver Simon allows us to appreciate the work of Gonzalo Rojas, one of the most celebrated and acclaimed Chilean poets of the 20th century, until now sparsely available in English translation.

For each literature fellow listed you will find a sample from the winning manuscript, a photograph, a biography, a brief author statement, and an audio file of the writer reading from the featured work. We invite you to read and listen to these poets and translators; we're sure you'll agree that although it is a hard road for the creative writer in the United States today, America's rich literary heritage persists and flourishes.

Please also see work by recipients in 2002 and 2003.

National Endowment for the Arts
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