Alice Walker, Scott Turow, Erik Larson to receive Sandburg Awards

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker, known for her iconic novel “The Color Purple,” along with best-selling authors Erik Larson (“Devil in the White City”) and Scott Turow (“Presumed Innocent”) are the recipients of the 2016 Carl Sandburg Literary Award, presented by The Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Chicago Public Library.

Walker, the author of more than 30 books, and also a recipient of the National Book Award, will be honored at a free, public event at 6 p.m. May 25 in the Winter Garden of the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State. To attend, you must pre-register at chipublib.org. Turow and Larson will be celebrated at the organization’s fundraising event dinner at The Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt, on Oct. 26.

“Alice Walker’s writing has the ability to profoundly touch the reader’s soul,” said event co-chair Linda Johnson Rice in a prepared statement. “I cannot wait to have the opportunity to learn more about Ms. Walker’s inspirations and writing process, as many of her books have made lasting, transformative impressions upon me and are among my personal favorites.”

The Carl Sandburg Literary Award celebrates a writer’s collective body of work.