Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
1 appearances
-
Edition 13 (2019) Winner
Bryan Washington
ブライアン・ワシントン
Bryan Washington
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1993-04-22 （Kentucky, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Katy, Texas, U.S. → Houston, Texas, U.S.
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Scholar, Lecturer
- Active Years
- 2015-
- Affiliations
- Rice University, Department of English (Lecturer)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Houston | — | English | BA | — | United States |
| University of New Orleans | — | — | MFA | — | United States |
University of Houston
English
Degree:
BA
Country:
United States
University of New Orleans
Degree:
MFA
Country:
United States
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence | Lot | — | Ernest J. Gaines Award (organization) | Won |
| 2020 | Dylan Thomas Prize | Lot | — | Dylan Thomas Prize (organization) | Won |
| 2020 | Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction | Lot | Gay Fiction | Lambda Literary Foundation | Won |
| 2020 | Young Lions Fiction Award | Lot | — | The New York Public Library | Won |
| 2025 | National Book Award (Fiction) | Palaver | Fiction | National Book Foundation | Finalist |
| 2020 | Aspen Words Literary Prize (Longlist/Shortlist) | Memorial | — | Aspen Institute | Longlisted |
| 2021 | Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction | Memorial | Fiction | Carnegie Medals (organization) | Longlisted |
| 2022 | William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (Fiction) | Memorial | Fiction | William Saroyan Prize (organization) | Shortlisted |
Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
2019
Work:
Lot
Organization:
Ernest J. Gaines Award (organization)
Result:
Won
Dylan Thomas Prize
2020
Work:
Lot
Organization:
Dylan Thomas Prize (organization)
Result:
Won
Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction
2020
Work:
Lot
Category:
Gay Fiction
Organization:
Lambda Literary Foundation
Result:
Won
Young Lions Fiction Award
2020
Work:
Lot
Organization:
The New York Public Library
Result:
Won
National Book Award (Fiction)
2025
Work:
Palaver
Category:
Fiction
Organization:
National Book Foundation
Result:
Finalist
Aspen Words Literary Prize (Longlist/Shortlist)
2020
Work:
Memorial
Organization:
Aspen Institute
Result:
Longlisted
Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction
2021
Work:
Memorial
Category:
Fiction
Organization:
Carnegie Medals (organization)
Result:
Longlisted
William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (Fiction)
2022
Work:
Memorial
Category:
Fiction
Organization:
William Saroyan Prize (organization)
Result:
Shortlisted
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Lot
2019 Fiction (short stories)A linked short story collection set in Houston exploring family, sexuality, race, and class through interconnected characters.
FamilySexualityUrban lifeCultural hybridityIdentity
Memorial
2020 Fiction (novel)A novel about two men in a relationship confronting family obligations, cultural differences, and communication gaps, often centered around meals.
FamilyCultural clashCommunicationFood and memory
Adaptations
- [Television] Memorial (TV adaptation)
Family Meal
2023 Fiction (novel)A novel themed around family meals and the generational and cultural frictions that surface around them.
FamilyMealsIntergenerational relationships
Palaver
2025 Fiction (novel)Details limited; reported as a notable work selected as a finalist for the National Book Award.
FamilyIdentity
Bibliography
- Lot: Stories (2019)
- Memorial: A Novel (2020)
- Family Meal: A Novel (2023)
- Palaver (2025)
Adaptations
- Memorial — TV rights purchased by A24; Washington set to adapt screenplay
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Concise, observant proseEmotional expression through details of food and everyday lifeQuiet, interior-focused characterization
- Recurring Motifs
- Family and mealsUrban boundaries and communityCultural hybridity and identityGender and sexuality
Legacy
As a prominent young American writer, Washington has been praised for his nuanced portrayals of Houston, immigration, race, and sexuality. His debut short story collection Lot won multiple major prizes, and his novels have earned international attention.
Trivia
- A24 purchased television rights to Memorial; Washington is slated to write the screenplay adaptation.
- He moved with his family from Kentucky to Katy, Texas as a child.
- He has said he knew he was gay from a young age but initially avoided formally coming out due to fear of stigmatization.