MACRW alum Noor Naga has made us all proud by winning the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize for her debut novel, If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English. This incredible accomplishment comes after the book was shortlisted for the Giller Prize, further solidifying its place as a must-read in contemporary literature.
The Center for Fiction Annual Awards Benefit, held on December 6, 2022, was the setting for the announcement, where author Rebecca Makkai presented Naga with the award and a prize of $15,000. The panel of judges, consisting of Matt Bell, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Megha Majumdar, Rebecca Makkai, and Chigozie Obioma, selected Naga's novel from a list of distinguished American writers.
To learn more about Noor Naga and If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English, read the announcement article on the Center for Fiction website.