PEN/Jean Stein Book Award ($75,000)

Please note that the judging panel will nominate candidates internally and without submissions from the public.

The PEN/Jean Stein Book Award is an annual award which recognizes a book-length work of any genre for its originality, merit, and impact that has broken new ground by reshaping the boundaries of its form and signaling strong potential for lasting influence. A distinguished panel of judges, serving anonymously, will nominate candidates internally and without submissions from the public. The author of the winning book will receive a prize of $75,000 and be honored at the annual PEN Literary Awards Ceremony in New York City.

2019 ELIGIBILITY Guidelines


Eligible books in the 2019 Awards Cycle:

  • Must be published in U.S. in 2018.
  • May be of any genre (fiction, memoir, essay, general nonfiction, poetry)
  • Must possess significant literary merit, illustrate great originality, and possess strong potential for lasting influence.

SUBMISSION guidelineS


Please note that the judging panel will nominate candidates internally and without submissions from the public.