Lannan Literary Awards
4 appearances
Charles Bowden
チャールズ・ボウデン
Charles Bowden
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1945-07-20 （Joliet, Illinois, U.S.）
- Died
- 2014-08-30 （Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.） age 69
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Chicago, Illinois, U.S. → Tucson, Arizona, U.S. → Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Journalist, Essayist
- Active Years
- 1970-2014
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson High School | — | — | — | — | United States |
| University of Arizona | — | — | — | — | United States |
| University of Wisconsin | — | American intellectual history | 修士（American intellectual history） | — | United States |
Tucson High School
Country:
United States
University of Arizona
Country:
United States
Attended (degree details unknown)
University of Wisconsin
American intellectual history
Degree:
修士（American intellectual history）
Country:
United States
Reportedly left during his doctoral defense
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Lannan Literary Award for Nonfiction | — | — | Lannan Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2011 | PEN Center USA First Amendment Award | — | — | PEN Center USA | 受賞 |
| 2010 | United States Artists Award | — | — | United States Artists | 受賞 |
| 2006 | Southwest Book Award | Inferno | — | Border Regional Library Association | 受賞 |
Lannan Literary Award for Nonfiction
1996
Organization:
Lannan Foundation
Result:
受賞
PEN Center USA First Amendment Award
2011
Organization:
PEN Center USA
Result:
受賞
United States Artists Award
2010
Organization:
United States Artists
Result:
受賞
Southwest Book Award
2006
Work:
Inferno
Organization:
Border Regional Library Association
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Desierto: Memories of the Future
1991 Non-fictionA collection of essays on the American Southwest and the borderlands, blending landscape, environment, and social critique.
borderlandsenvironmentcommunity
Juárez: The Laboratory of our Future
1998 Investigative journalism / Non-fictionA detailed nonfiction account of violence and economic structures in Ciudad Juárez, offering a stark portrayal of border realities.
war on drugsviolenceglobal economy
Down by the River: Drugs, Money, Murder, and Family
2002 Non-fiction / ReportageFocuses on drug trade, the violence it spawns, its destructive economic effects, and the lives affected.
drug tradefamilycycle of violence
Inferno
2006 Photographs and essaysAn essay collection paired with photographs by Michael P. Berman, reflecting the darker realities of the Southwest and borderlands.
landscape and violencelives of residentsphotojournalism
Murder City: Ciudad Juárez and the Global Economy's New Killing Fields
2011 Non-fiction / InvestigativeAnalyzes the wave of killings in Ciudad Juárez in relation to economic structures and international contexts.
mass killingseconomic structuresborder issues
The Charles Bowden Reader
2010 Essay collection / ReaderAn edited selection of major essays and writings, providing an overview of his career.
essaysborderlandsnature and society
Bibliography
- The Impact of Energy Development on Water Resources in Arid Lands: Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography (1975)
- Killing the Hidden Waters (1977)
- Blue Desert (1986)
- Mezcal (1988)
- Red Line (1989)
- Desierto: Memories of the Future (1991)
- Juárez: The Laboratory of our Future (1998)
- Down by the River: Drugs, Money, Murder, and Family (2002)
- Blues for Cannibals: The Notes from Underground (2002)
- Inferno (2006)
- Murder City: Ciudad Juárez and the Global Economy's New Killing Fields (2011)
- The Charles Bowden Reader (2010)
- Dreamland: The Way Out of Juárez (2010)
- Various other essays, photo books, and collaborations
Adaptations
- Documentary "Dead When I Got Here" (served as Executive Producer)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- lyrical nonfiction proseimmersive, on-the-ground reportagelyrical yet direct voice
- Recurring Motifs
- borderlandsdesert and wilderness landscapesnormalized violencewater and resource issues
Legacy
Charles Bowden is regarded as a writer and journalist who vividly and lyrically documented the American Southwest and the U.S.–Mexico border. He left important records on environmental issues and violence, shaping contemporary understanding of borderland realities.
Archives
- The Charles Bowden Papers (Wittliff Collections, Texas State University in San Marcos)
Trivia
- Reportedly walked out during his doctoral defense.
- Wrote repeatedly about the borderlands and environmental issues throughout his life.
- Married and divorced twice; had long-term partners and professional collaborators.
- Left unpublished manuscripts that are being issued posthumously by The Bowden Publishing Project.