Benson Medal
TheBenson Medalis a medal awarded by theRoyal Society of Literaturein the UK.[1]
It was founded in 1916 byA. C. Bensonwho was a Fellow of the Society, to honour those who produce "meritorious works in poetry, fiction, history, andbelles-lettres".[1]The medal has been awarded several times to writers in other languages, and is occasionally awarded those who are not writers, but who have done conspicuous service to literature.
The medal is awarded at irregular intervals for lifelong achievement. Recipients include: Edmund Blunden, Anita Desai, Maureen Duffy,[1] E. M. Forster,[2] Christopher Fry,[1] John Gawsworth,[3] Nadine Gordimer, Philip Larkin,[1] R. K. Narayan[4] A. L. Rowse,[5] George Santayana,[1] Wole Soyinka,[6] Lytton Strachey, J. R. R. Tolkien,[1]and Helen Waddell.[7]
In November 2020, the new design for the medal by Linda Crook was unveiled. The design includes books on one side, and people on the other.[8]
Recent recipients[edit]
2022[edit]
2021[edit]
2020[edit]
2019[edit]
2018[edit]
2017[edit]
2016[edit]
2015[edit]
2014[edit]
2013[edit]
2012[edit]
- David Pease[14]
- Jenny Uglow[14]
2011[edit]
Earlier recipients[edit]
- 2010:Al Alvarez
- 2009:Mark Le Fanu;Kay Dunbar
- 2008:John Saumarez Smith;Douglas Matthews
- 2007:Nadine Gordimer
- 2006:Ronald Blythe;Joan Winterkorn– manuscript expert
- 2005:Edward Upward
- 2004:Maureen Duffy;[15]James Parker[16]
- 2003:Anita Desai;[17]David Sutton[18]
- 2000:Christopher Fry[19]
- 1996:Shusaku Endo[20]
- 1993:Julien Green[21]
- 1990:Wole Soyinka;[citation needed]
- 1989:Anthony Burgess;[21]Nadine Gordimer[citation needed]
- 1982:A. L. Rowse[21]
- 1981:Sir Sacheverell Sitwell;[22]Odysseas Elytis
- 1979:R. K. Narayan[23]
- 1975:Philip Larkin[24]
- 1969:Cecil Woodham-Smith[21]
- 1966:J. R. R. Tolkien;[25]Rebecca West;[21]E. V. Rieu[21]
- 1952:Frederick S. Boas[21]
- 1941:Christopher La Farge[21]
- 1940:Christopher Hassall;[22]John Gawsworth[26]
- 1939:F. L. Lucas;Andrew Young;
- 1938:E. M. Forster;[27]G. M. Young
- 1934:Edith Sitwell[21]
- 1931:Stella Benson;[21]Siegfried Sassoon[28]
- 1930:Edmund Blunden
- 1927:Frederick Arthur Simpson;Helen Waddell
- 1926:Percy Lubbock;Robert Wilson Lynd;Harold Nicolson
- 1925:Gordon Bottomley;George Santayana
- 1923:Lytton Strachey
- 1917:Gabriele d'Annunzio;[21]Benito Pérez Galdós;[21]Maurice Barres[21]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefg"The Benson Medal",The Royal Society of Literature website.
- ^E. M. ForsterArchived7 September 2008 at theWayback Machinefrom theTiscaliUK web portal.
- ^Two Kings of Redonda: M. P. Shiel and John Gawsworth,from aUniversity of Iowawebsite.
- ^Narayan's author biographyArchived9 January 2009 at theWayback Machinefrom thePenguin Bookswebsite.
- ^A. L. Rowse: Historian and friend - Obituary,a December 2001Contemporary Reviewarticle viafindarticles.
- ^Biography of Wole Soyinkafrom the website of theEcho Foundation.
- ^Biography of Helen WaddellArchived3 March 2007 at theWayback Machine,from the onlineDictionary of Ulster Biography.
- ^"Royal Society of Literature » Boyd Tonkin Awarded newly-designed Benson Medal".rsliterature.org.Retrieved30 November2020.
- ^"2022 Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Benson Medal".rsliterature.org.The Royal Society of Literature. 12 July 2022.Retrieved25 July2022.
- ^"Alastair Niven Awarded 2021 Benson Medal".rsliterature.org.The Royal Society of Literature. 6 July 2021.Retrieved25 July2022.
- ^"Royal Society of Literature » The Benson Medal".rsliterature.org.Retrieved30 November2020.
- ^"Queen Mary academic receives prestigious Royal Society of Literature Award",Queen Mary University of London,25 June 2019.
- ^"Royal Society of Literature » The Benson Medal".rsliterature.org.Retrieved27 March2019.
- ^abcdefghij"The Benson Medal".The Royal Society of Literature.Retrieved4 January2017.
- ^"Ms. Maureen Duffy".Debretts. Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2012.Retrieved10 August2010.
- ^i.e. Dr James Parker, Co-ordinator of the International Public Lending Right Network (IPLR).
- ^"Desai, Anita 1937–".encyclopedia.Retrieved30 April2018.
- ^"University archivist wins top international prize",from theUniversity of Readingwebsite, 19 October 2006.
- ^Publications, Europa (2003)."Fry, Christopher".International Who's Who.ISBN9781857432176.Retrieved10 August2010.
- ^Shusaku Endo (May 1996).Silence.ISBN9780140249521.
- ^abcdefghijklm"The Benson Medal".Royal Society of Literature.Retrieved9 May2016.
- ^abDictionary of National Biography.
- ^"R K Narayan".Penguin India.Retrieved30 April2018.
- ^"Philip Larkin".Experience Literature Poetry.Retrieved10 August2010.
- ^"Facts and History about Professor Tolkien and his books".Skies of Rohan.Retrieved11 August2010.
- ^"Benson and hedging: James Fergusson reveals a high profile dispute over the RSL Benson Medal",The Royal Society of Literature.
- ^"E(dward) M(organ) Forster".Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2008.Retrieved11 August2010.
- ^"London's Book Market".The Argus.4 April 1931.Retrieved20 February2018.
External links[edit]
- "The Benson Medal"at The Royal Society of Literature website.