Elaine May was Among the Honorees at the 2022 PEN America Literary Awards

On February 28, the PEN America Literary Awards was held at Manhattan's Town Hall, marking the organization's first live awards ceremony since March 2020. Hosted by Seth Meyers—whose own children's book will be released this month—the evening celebrated achievements in writing and bestowed Career Achievement Awards upon Elaine May, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, and Jackie Sibblies Drury; 11 Book Awards were granted to a group including Yoon Choi, Rebecca Donner, Jennifer Grotz and Piotr Sommer, Tiya Miles, Julia Sanches, Torrey Peters, Catherine Raven, Margaret Renkl, Diane Seuss, Divya Victor, and Daisy Hernández. Following the awards ceremony—which featured live music by the Ulysses Owens Jr. Band, joined for songs by Bobby Conte, Jenn Colella, and Kyle Taylor Parker—PEN American CEO Suzanne Nossel invited guests to join a vigil in support of Ukraine, including readings by Laurie Anderson, Jennifer Egan, Ann Patchett, and Gary Shteyngart.