At last: Maya Angelou to receive National Book Award

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The book world is finally honouring Maya Angelou.

The poet and author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is this year’s recipient of the Literarian Award, an honorary National Book Award for contributions to the literary community, the National Book Foundation announced Thursday. It’s the first major literary prize for the 85-year-old Angelou, whose many honours include three Grammys for best spoken word album, a National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

E.L. Doctorow, a familiar name among prize judges, will receive an honorary medal for “contributions to American letters.” He won the National Book Award in 1986 for “World’s Fair” and was a finalist three other times. He’s best known for the historical novel “Ragtime,” which was adapted into a movie and Broadway musical.