Colum McCann wins national fiction prize

20 November 2009

Irish writer, Colum McCann has won the fiction prize at the National Book Awards for his novel 'Let the Great World Spin'.

The novel which focuses on Philippe Petit's tightrope walk at the World Trade Centre in 1974, was inspired by the events of 9/11 and was called "a gravity-defying feat" by the judges.

Other winners include, TJ Stiles (Non-fiction prize), Professor Keith Waldrop (Poetry award), Philip Hoose (young people's literature prize) and Gore Vidal for his "distinguished contribution to American letters". The evening also saw Flannery O'Connor be honored as the best fiction winner of the National Book awards' in the last 60 years, as voted by readers.

The awards, which are now in their 60th year, took place in New York and were chosen by a five-member panel. Each winner walked away with a $10,000 cheque and crystal trophy.