Anthony Winkler wins 2014 Townsend Prize for Fiction
The author of <i>God Carlos</i> took home the biennial prize last night
- AKASHIC BOOKS
Last night, the 2014 Townsend Prize for Fiction was awarded to Anthony Winkler for his 2012 novel God Carlos. The novel, which tells of Spanish brutalities against native peoples in 16th-century Jamaica, is Winkler’s ninth book of fiction. He has since published a follow-up novel, The Family Mansion, which concerns 19th century British imperialism in Jamaica. The ceremony, as arranged by The Chattahooche Review and the Georgia Center for the Book, took place at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
Though Winkler’s award wasn’t surprising, his long career a novelist has coasted mostly below the radar. Last year, Atlanta Magazine published an article titled, “Anthony C. Winkler may be the best novelist you’ve never heard of.” Aside from his novels, Winkler’s credits include a large number of contributions to textbooks concerning grammar and rhetoric.
Other finalists for the award included The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont, Where You Can Find Me by Sheri Joseph, I Want to Show You More by Jamie Quatro, and others. National Book Award-winning novelist Jesmyn Ward delivered the keynote.