{{short description|U.S. literary award}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox recurring event |name = PEN / Bellwether Prize<br/>for Socially Engaged Fiction<!--Uses page name if omitted--> |native_name = |native_name_lang = |nickname = Bellwether Prize |logo = |logo_alt = |logo_caption = |logo_size = |image = |image_size = |alt = |caption = |status = Active<!-- e.g. defunct, active, inactive ... --> |genre = Literary award<br/>{{small|(Award for unpublished fiction that addresses social justice issues)}}<!-- e.g. natural phenomena, fairs, festivals, conferences, exhibitions ... --> |date = {{start date and age|2000}}<!-- {{start date|YYYY|mm|dd}} "dates=" also works, but do not use both --> |begins = <!-- {{start date|YYYY|mm|dd}} --> |ends = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|mm|dd}} --> |frequency = Bi-annually<!-- Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-annually, Annually, Bi-annually, 2nd Tuesday of November, etc. --> |venue = |location = |coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|type:event|display=inline,title}} --> |country = United States<!-- or "countries" if more than one --> |years_active = <!-- {{age|YYYY|mm|dd}} Date of the first occurrence --> |first = <!-- {{start date|YYYY|mm|dd}} "founded=" and "established=" also work --> |founder_name = Barbara Kingsolver<!-- or | founders = --> |last = 2023<!-- Date of most recent event; if the event will not be held again, use {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> |prev = 2021 |next = 2025{{efn|Although, announced in 2025 as deferred.}} |participants = |attendance = |capacity = |area = |budget = |prize_money = {{USD|25000}} |activity = |leader_name = |patron = |organised = PEN America<!-- "organized=" also works --> |filing = |people = |member = |sponsor = <!-- | or sponsors = --> |website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> |current = Fabienne Josaphat |footnotes = }} The '''Bellwether Prize''', officially the '''PEN / Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction''', formerly known as the '''Bellwether Prize for Fiction''', is a biennial award given by PEN America and Barbara Kingsolver to a U.S. citizen for a previously unpublished work of fiction that address issues of social justice. The prize was established by Kingsolver and is funded by her.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=A Celebration of the PEN/Bellwether Prize with Katherine Seligman and Barbara Kingsolver |url=https://centerforfiction.org/event/a-celebration-of-the-pen-bellwether-prize-with-katherine-seligman-and-barbara-kingsolver |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=The Center for Fiction |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209234138/https://centerforfiction.org/event/a-celebration-of-the-pen-bellwether-prize-with-katherine-seligman-and-barbara-kingsolver/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Winning authors receive a {{USD}}25,000 award and a publishing contract, from which they receive royalties.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bellwether Prize Information|url=http://www.bellwetherprize.org/info.html|access-date=2007-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505052223/http://www.bellwetherprize.org/info.html|archive-date=2010-05-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Submissions are judged by a panel of authors whose work shows themes of social change. Authors who have served as judges include: Russell Banks, Martin Espada, Terry Karten, Maxine Hong Kingston, Ursula K. Le Guin, Barry Lopez, Toni Morrison, Ruth Ozeki, Grace Paley, and Anna Quindlen.
In May 2011, PEN America (formerly the PEN American Center) announced it would administer the prize, known as the PEN/Bellwether Prize.<ref>{{cite web |title=American PEN Centre |url=http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/6004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006000932/http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/6004 |archive-date=2012-10-06}}</ref> The award is one of many PEN awards sponsored by International PEN affiliates in over 145 PEN centres around the world. PEN America awards were characterized in 2005 as among the "major" American literary prizes.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LyJqIfNPSgcC&pg=PA689 |title=The Continuum Encyclopedia of American Literature |chapter=Literary Prizes and Awards |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |author=Bendixen, Alfred |date=2005 |page=689 |access-date=2016-10-21 |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224194004/https://books.google.com/books?id=LyJqIfNPSgcC&pg=PA689 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Winners== {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" |+Bellwether Prize winners<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-01 |title=PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction Winners |url=https://pen.org/penbellwether-prize-for-socially-engaged-fiction-winners/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=PEN America |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806165453/https://pen.org/penbellwether-prize-for-socially-engaged-fiction-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ! Year !! Author !! Title !! Notes |- !2000 |{{sortname|last=Gershten|first=Donna}} |''Kissing the Virgin's Mouth'' |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2001-04-02 |title=Bellwether Prize Seeks House to Publish Next Winner |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20010402/37553-bellwether-prize-seeks-house-to-publish-next-winner.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224195607/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20010402/37553-bellwether-prize-seeks-house-to-publish-next-winner.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2002 |{{sortname|last=Brandeis|first=Gayle}} |''{{sortname|last=Book of Dead Birds|first=The|nolink=1}}'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-23 |title=Drawing Breath: Essays on Writing, the Body, and Loss by Gayle Brandeis |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9798985652710 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Publishers Weekly |archive-date=2022-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209014722/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9798985652710 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2004 |{{sortname|last=Kowalski Cole|first=Marjorie}} |''Correcting the Landscape'' |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-19 |title=The City Beneath the Snow by Marjorie Kowalski Cole |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781602231382 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Publishers Weekly |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224195642/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781602231382 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2006 |{{sortname|last=Jordan|first=Hillary}} |''Mudbound'' | |- !2008 |{{sortname|last=Durrow|first=Heidi W. }} |''{{sortname|The|Girl Who Fell from the Sky|nolink=1}}'' | |- !2010 |{{sortname|last=Benaron|first=Naomi}} |''Running the Rift'' | |- !2012 |{{sortname|last=Nussbaum|first=Susan}} |''Good Kings Bad Kings'' |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 30, 2012 |title=Awards: PEN Literary |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1817 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=2023-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203025149/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1817 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=June 8, 2012 |title=Awards: PEN/Bellwether Winner |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1756 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=2017-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002100819/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1756 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-29 |title=2012 PEN Literary Awards Announced |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/53754-2012-pen-literary-awards-announced.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224195644/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/53754-2012-pen-literary-awards-announced.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2014 |{{sortname|last=Childress|first=Ron}} |''And West Is West'' |<ref>{{cite web |author=John Williams |date=July 30, 2014 |title=James Wolcott and Frank Bidart Among 2014 PEN American Winners |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/james-wolcott-and-frank-bidart-among-2014-pen-award-winners |access-date=August 1, 2014 |work=New York Times |archive-date=August 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801150445/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/james-wolcott-and-frank-bidart-among-2014-pen-award-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=June 19, 2014 |title=PEN Literary Shortlists; PEN/Bellwether Winner |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2278 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=2023-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130012126/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2278 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 23, 2015 |title=Book Brahmin: Ron Childress |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2619 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=2022-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103033842/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2619 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2014 |title=Bidart, Wolcott Among 2014 PEN Winners |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/63498-bidart-wolcott-among-2014-pen-winners.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2014-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002232347/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/63498-bidart-wolcott-among-2014-pen-winners.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2016 |{{sortname|last=Ko|first=Lisa}} |''The Leavers'' |<ref>{{cite web |author=Maggie Galehouse |date=March 1, 2016 |title=PEN Literary Award winners announced |url=http://www.chron.com/entertainment/arts-theater/article/PEN-Literary-Award-winners-announced-6862999.php |access-date=March 2, 2016 |work=Chron |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302102939/http://www.chron.com/entertainment/arts-theater/article/PEN-Literary-Award-winners-announced-6862999.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=May 19, 2017 |title=Reading with... Lisa Ko |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3005 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=2022-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225031307/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3005 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 1, 2016 |title=2016 PEN Literary Award Winners |url=http://www.pen.org/2016-pen-literary-award-winners |access-date=March 2, 2016 |publisher=PEN |archive-date=March 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301213047/http://www.pen.org/2016-pen-literary-award-winners |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2019 |{{sortname|last=Seligman|first=Katherine}} |''At the Edge of the Haight'' |<ref>{{cite web |title=PEN America Literary Awards |url=https://pen.org/pen-bellwether-prize/ |access-date=Jan 13, 2021 |work=pen.org |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115150949/https://pen.org/pen-bellwether-prize/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=John |date=2019-02-27 |title='Daring Works' Fêted at 2019 PEN America Literary Awards |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/79376-2019-pen-america-literary-awards.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924140846/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/79376-2019-pen-america-literary-awards.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2021 |{{sortname|last=Minnicks|first=Jamila}} |''Moonrise Over New Jessup'' |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saka |first=Rasheeda |date=2021-03-02 |title=Announcing the winners of the PEN/Bellwether Prize and the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize. |url=https://lithub.com/announcing-the-winners-of-the-pen-bellwether-prize-and-the-pen-robert-j-dau-short-story-prize/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Literary Hub |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103042049/https://lithub.com/announcing-the-winners-of-the-pen-bellwether-prize-and-the-pen-robert-j-dau-short-story-prize/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2023 |title=Moonrise over New Jessup |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/www.shelf-awareness.com/sar-issue.html?issue=1161 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Shelf Awareness }}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> |- ! 2023 |{{sortname|last=Josaphat|first=Fabienne}} |''Kingdom of No Tomorrow'' | <ref name=MPR>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Kerri |last2=Gordon |first2=Kelly |date=2025-02-07 |title=Fabienne Josaphat’s ‘Kingdom of No Tomorrow’ explores gender equality in the Black Panthers |url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2025/02/07/fabienne-josaphats-kingdom-of-no-tomorrow-explores-gender-equality-in-the-black-panthers |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=pen>{{Cite web |title=Kingdom of No Tomorrow: Fabienne Josaphat in conversation with Barbara Kingsolver |url=https://pen.org/event/kingdom-of-no-tomorrow-fabienne-josaphat-in-conversation-with-barbara-kingsolver/ |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=PEN America |language=en-US}}</ref> |- ! {{small|2025}} | colspan=3; align=center| {{small|''Not awarded''}} |}
== See also == {{Portal|Books}} * Bellwether
== Notes == {{noteslist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://pen.org/literary-award/penbellwether-prize-for-socially-engaged-fiction-25000/ Bellwether Prize] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227194649/https://pen.org/literary-award/penbellwether-prize-for-socially-engaged-fiction-25000/ |date=2019-12-27 }}
Category:PEN America awards Category:Awards established in 2000 Category:2000 establishments in the United States Category:American fiction awards Category:Literary awards honouring human rights