Earlier this week American playwright Edward Albee received the
2012 PEN
Literary Service Award, an annual honor recognizing a writer “whose
critically acclaimed work illuminates the human condition in original and
powerful ways.”
Albee’s award was conferred during the 2012 PEN Literary
Gala, a lavish gathering bringing together many of the world’s most acclaimed
writers and editors to begin this year’s PEN World Voices Festival. Notable
attendees included novelist Gary Shteyngart, who tweeted “Tried
to take photo of Edward Albee at PEN dinner but didn't realize you can't
photograph god” and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tony
Kushner, who presented Albee’s award.
Albee’s acceptance speech highlighted the work done to
promote the PEN American Center’s mission to secure the liberty of imprisoned
writers worldwide, defend freedom of expression, and promote literature and international
cultural exchange. Albee commented,
“What happens to creativity in dictatorial societies? We all know that silence
happens,” continuing,
“PEN’s freedom to write committee makes sure there is sound.”
Albee is the author of more than thirty plays and the
recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including three Pulitzer Prizes
for Drama (a number exceeded only by Eugene O’Neill’s four), three Tony Awards,
the Gold Medal in Drama by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the
Kennedy Center Honors, and the National Medal of Arts. Overlook publishes three
volumes of Albee’s collected
plays, as well as standalone editions of some of his best known work
including The Goat or Who
is Sylvia, The Play About the
Baby , Seascape, and At
Home at the Zoo.
The great American playwright 