Professor wins international fiction award
By: Elliot Wardlow
Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: News
Richard Bausch's office is lined with shelves overflowing with books. But that's what one expects of an award-winning novelist.
Bausch tugs the brim of his beret, leans back in his chair and scratches his beard as he ponders the question, "Why does your newest book focus on war?"
"I really don't know," Bausch said. "I don't really choose the subjects I write about. They choose me. Some of it is made up. Something in it is a story I heard my father tell."
Bausch, the Chair of Excellence in English at The University Memphis, took that story his father told him and turned it into Peace, a novel about American soldiers in Italy during World War II.
"The book is set in war, but the subject is really peace," Bausch said.
Bausch said the theme of the book is, "Wherever we are not there, there is peace."
The novel won the 2009 Dayton Literary Peace Prize and has been called "Brilliant" by The New York Times Book Review and "Perfect" by The Seattle Times.
While Bausch is glad for the award and the accolades, he doesn't let it go to his head.
"The worst thing you can do is take anything critics say to heart," Bausch said. "The best thing to do is not take any of it into account and just write good stories."
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize is the only international literary peace prize given out in the United States. While Bausch said he does appreciate receiving the award, he doesn't think it makes him a better writer.
"It's all a crapshoot," Bausch said. "An award doesn't validate a writer. He is what he is. The only effect that it has on your work is that it keeps you from working."
Bausch was referring to attending the ceremony in Dayton, Ohio, where he will receive The Dayton Literary Peace Prize along with $10,000.
Bausch said all joking aside, he was excited to go to the ceremony.
"Everybody wears ties and tuxes. It looks like the Oscars. It's going to be fun," Bausch said.
Bausch tugs the brim of his beret, leans back in his chair and scratches his beard as he ponders the question, "Why does your newest book focus on war?"
"I really don't know," Bausch said. "I don't really choose the subjects I write about. They choose me. Some of it is made up. Something in it is a story I heard my father tell."
Bausch, the Chair of Excellence in English at The University Memphis, took that story his father told him and turned it into Peace, a novel about American soldiers in Italy during World War II.
"The book is set in war, but the subject is really peace," Bausch said.
Bausch said the theme of the book is, "Wherever we are not there, there is peace."
The novel won the 2009 Dayton Literary Peace Prize and has been called "Brilliant" by The New York Times Book Review and "Perfect" by The Seattle Times.
While Bausch is glad for the award and the accolades, he doesn't let it go to his head.
"The worst thing you can do is take anything critics say to heart," Bausch said. "The best thing to do is not take any of it into account and just write good stories."
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize is the only international literary peace prize given out in the United States. While Bausch said he does appreciate receiving the award, he doesn't think it makes him a better writer.
"It's all a crapshoot," Bausch said. "An award doesn't validate a writer. He is what he is. The only effect that it has on your work is that it keeps you from working."
Bausch was referring to attending the ceremony in Dayton, Ohio, where he will receive The Dayton Literary Peace Prize along with $10,000.
Bausch said all joking aside, he was excited to go to the ceremony.
"Everybody wears ties and tuxes. It looks like the Oscars. It's going to be fun," Bausch said.