George Saunders G'88, professor of creative writing in the College of Arts and Sciences, was honored with the 2025 National Book Award for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (DCAL) by the National Book Foundation.

Saunders accepted the medal at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on November 19, 2025, where it was presented by Deborah Treisman, Fiction Editor at The New Yorker.

Watch Saunders' acceptance.

His literary achievements include winning the 2017 Man Booker Prize for his novel "Lincoln in the Bardo," and having his short story collection "Liberation Day" named one of President Barack Obama's favorite books of 2022. Three of his works were featured in The New York Times' list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century.

Saunders' upcoming novel "Vigil," scheduled for publication by Random House in January 2026, follows oil company CEO K.J. Boone through a passage between life and death where he must face the consequences of his actions.