The PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay, created in 1991 but put on hold since 2005, has been revived for 2011. The prize of $5,000—initiated by Barbarlee Diamonstein & Carl Spielvogel—goes to the author of a book of previously uncollected essays. Noteworthy winners include Cynthia Ozick, Marilynne Robinson, and William Gass.

“This award for the art of the essay supports one of the great forms of American writing,” said PEN’s Executive Director Steven Isenberg, “With the reinstatement of this terrific award… PEN’s support for great nonfiction writing grows even stronger.”
On October 13, PEN handed out three first-time awards; the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing, PEN/W.G. Sebald Award for a Fiction Writer in Mid-Career, and the PEN/Edward and Lily Tuck Award for Paraguayan Literature. Two days later, Harrison Ford and E. O. Wilson announced the creation of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Award for Literary Science Writing.

The essay award has no restrictions on subject matter. The book itself must be a collection of separate essays, not just a single book-length essay. Previous publication of individual essays is acceptable. Eligible works for the 2011 award must have been published between January 1, and December 31, 2010.