A Temple of Texts Wins '07 Capote Award

William H. Gass' A Temple of Texts has been named the winner of the 2007 Truman Capote Award for Literary Criticism, the largest cash prize for English-language lit crit.

As noted in the press release announcing the award, Stephen Schenkenberg reviewed A Temple of Texts for Identity Theory last year, saying:

Throughout the book's 25 essays, Gass is the champion -- sometimes joyful, sometimes harsh -- of intellectual fitness. For him, reading is a form of aerobics. It is a demanding, exertive, physical act, and as such it stretches, tones, and conditions those who are turning the pages. . . .

This is one of William H. Gass's greatest skills: articulating, and indeed celebrating how the finest artworks find a physical place in our lives. And in this, his most personal and generous essay collection, he does it so often and so magically that the book almost rattles when I carry it.

Read full Identity Theory review of A Temple of Texts.

Purchase A Temple of Texts online.