Variations on an Undisclosed Location: 2022 PEN America Prison Writing Awards Anthology

by PEN America

This 5th annual PEN America Prison Writing Awards Anthology represents the indispensable archive of the creativity and intellect of incarcerated writers. It also exists simultaneously as a vehicle of connection with the world and other incarcerated writers across the country. In a day and age of digitization and short attention spans, the physical presence of this book serves to confront the reader with the human writers who have contributed their stories and hearts to the work within. Several poignant themes are masterfully represented in this work, ranging from the criminalization of homelessness to meta analysis of what it takes to win writing contests from behind the walls. Writers weave a tapestry from diverse backgrounds, identities, and locales across poetry, fiction, nonfiction and drama to portray the most vivid portrayal of the unfetishized reality we share. Cover art by Russell Craig.

Works by Frank Kensaku Saragosa, Rahsaan Thomas, Ryan M. Moser, Seth Wittner, Wintersun Lemieux, Thomas Bartlett Whitaker, Kevin Schaeffer, Alex Tretbar, C. Fausto Cabrera, Fernando Rivas, David A. Pickett, Jason Centrone, John Corley, Julian Blanchard, Joseph Grosso, Lyle C. May, Burl Corbett, Leo Cardez, Geneva Phillips, Reginald Stevens, Paul Wach, Daniel Pirkel, Elizabeth Hawes, Tsunami Caryl-Averlyn, John Adams, Stephen Perez, Alex Friedmann, Brandon Amos, Evan Drennan, Sean White, Walter Sam, and Gary Farlow.

380 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2022

Reviews

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book with its writings by incarcerated men and women. Their writings reflect their lives and offer insight into each one’s heart and soul. It is a very special book.