Edward Rhymes

Colum McCann Walks Away With Top Fiction Award For Novel, Let The Great World Spin



Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009

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The 60th annual National Book Awards was a stage for literature to be celebrated and for authors to shine.

Colum McCann won the National Book Award for fiction on Wednesday night for "Let the Great World Spin," a novel featuring a sprawling cast of characters in 1970s New York City whose lives are ineluctably touched by the mysterious tightrope walker who traverses a wire suspended between the Twin Towers one morning.

As e-books gain in popularity, Colum McCann insisted that paper texts were stronger than ever. McCann won the fiction prize for "Let the Great World Spin," a novel about daring, luck and mortality in the pre-digital world of 1970s New York.

He has called his book an act of hope written in part as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Accepting his prize, McCann praised the generosity of American fiction and of the American people. He dedicated the win to a fellow Irish-American, "good old" Frank McCourt.

"I think he's dancing upstairs," McCann said of the "Angela's Ashes" author, who died last summer after a battle with cancer.

In accepting the award, the Irish-born Mr. McCann, now a teacher of creative writing at Hunter College, said "as fiction writers and people who believe in the word, we have to enter the anonymous corners of human experience to make that little corner right." The book was published by Random House.

Here McCann talks about the inspiration for his novel:




  • Has over 21 years experience working in the field of anti-racism, equity and inclusion training


  • Holds Masters in theology & sociology; a PhD in sociology with an emphasis in Critical Race Theory


  • Is an internationally-recognized authority in the field of critical race theory and Black Studies


  • Author of : When Racism Is Law & Prejudice Is Policy: Discriminatory and Prejudicial Laws, Decisions and Policies in U.S. History


  • Has worked with organizations such as Youth For Christ, Campus Crusade, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action


  • Has served as a pastor, chaplain and counselor (including serving as a visiting- chaplain for the NFL)


  • Proud Husband of Lisa Marie and father of Serena, Clifford, Michael & Ezekiel


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