Living Canon

PEN/Hemingway Award 2009: Complete list of winners

The PEN/Hemingway Award has long served as a launching pad for debut novelists, honoring first-time authors who demonstrate the kind of crisp prose and unflinching honesty that Ernest Hemingway himself championed. In 2009, the award found its voice in Michael Dahlie’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Graceful Living, a novel that captures the wit and precision the award seeks in emerging literary talent. Dahlie’s debut announced him as a writer unafraid to explore the absurdities of contemporary life with both humor and depth, qualities that clearly resonated with the PEN/Hemingway judges.

The PEN/Hemingway Award, presented annually by PEN America and the Hemingway Foundation, recognizes debut novels of distinction and literary merit—and 2009’s selection underscored the award’s commitment to championing fresh voices in American fiction. The distinction carries real weight in the literary community, often determining which debuts gain serious readership and critical attention beyond their initial release. Dahlie’s win placed him among a distinguished lineage of writers whose first novels earned recognition at a crucial moment in their careers.

Below, you’ll find the complete details of this year’s honoree and what made A Gentleman’s Guide to Graceful Living stand out among the year’s debuts.

Debut Novel