For Immediate Release
October 6, 2008
Contacts:
Novelist Michael Cunningham Receives Fairfax Prize
Fairfax, VA –Novelist Michael Cunningham was the recipient of the 2008 Fairfax Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Literary Arts. This award was funded by the Fairfax Library Foundation, at the 10th annual Fall for the Book Festival. Fairfax Library Foundation Chair, Alvah Beander, presented the award following a free author program at George Mason University’s Harris Theater on Friday, September 26th at 7:30 p.m.
This award recognized Cunningham as an award-winning novelist including the Pulitzer Prize for The Hours. The author of A Home at the End of the World, Flesh and Blood and Specimen Day, accepted the 2008 Fairfax Prize that celebrates an author whose works have contributed significantly to American or international culture.
"We are pleased and honored to present Michael Cunningham with this award”, said Beander. “In addition to writing three major best selling novels, Michael has become a renowned nationally acclaimed author worthy of the Library Foundation’s highest award.”
Michael Cunningham was joined by Chinua Achebe, Charles Baxter, Christina Thompson, Sue Miller, C.R. Williams and other notable authors at the festival, which was cosponsored by generous support from the Fairfax Library Foundation, the Fairfax County Public Library, George Mason University, the Friends of the City of Fairfax Regional Library, Dominion, ExxonMobil, NOVEC and others. The annual festival was based at the Fairfax campus of George Mason University and at select locations throughout the region from September 21 –September 26.
Fairfax County Public Library Foundation, Inc., doing business as Fairfax Library Foundation, is a private, nonprofit corporation committed to providing supplementary support to the Fairfax County Public Library. The Foundation, while reinforcing the need for continued and increased public support for the library, serves as a catalyst for attracting private funding from individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations to enhance library services for our community.