Living Canon

PEN/Hemingway Award 2016: Complete list of winners

The PEN/Hemingway Award has long served as a launching pad for debut fiction writers, and the 2016 winners proved once again why this prestigious honor matters so much in the literary world. Named after Ernest Hemingway himself, the award celebrates excellence in debut fiction published in English, seeking out those rare first novels that demonstrate the kind of craft and vision that define a writer’s career. This year’s selection reflected the judging committee’s commitment to finding work that combines technical precision with genuine emotional depth—exactly the qualities Hemingway valued in fiction.

Ottessa Moshfegh’s Eileen claimed the top prize, and the choice immediately signaled something refreshingly dark and psychologically complex. The novel, set in 1960s New England, traces the twisted relationship between its protagonist and a glamorous older woman, building toward an unsettling exploration of obsession and desire. Moshfegh’s debut had already caught the attention of readers and critics alike, but the PEN/Hemingway Award cemented its status as a significant work—one that announces an exciting new voice unafraid to venture into morally murky territory with precision and style.

The 2016 PEN/Hemingway Award recognized a debut novel that would go on to influence conversations about character-driven literary fiction for years to come. Below, you’ll find the complete list of winners from this milestone year.

Debut Novel