Don DeLillo wins first Library of Congress Prize

NEW YORK Don DeLillo has won the first Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.

Widely acknowledged as a master chronicler of American dread and secrecy, DeLillo was praised in a statement by the Library Thursday for the "diversity of his themes and the virtuosity of his prose. . . .

"Like Dostoyevsky, Don DeLillo probes deeply into the sociopolitical and moral life of his country," said Librarian of Congress James Billington.

DeLillo's novels include "White Noise" (1985), "Libra" (1988) "Mao II," (1992), "Underworld" (1997), "The Body Artist" (2001), "Cosmopolis" (2003), "Falling Man" (2007), and "Point Omega" (2010).

2011 saw the publication his short story collection, "The Angel Esmeralda: Nine Stories."

The 76-year-old DeLillo will be presented with the new award in September during the library's annual National Book Festival in Washington.

Previously, in connection with the National Book Festival, the Library has bestowed Creative Achievement Awards for fiction, to John Grisham, Isabel Allende, Toni Morrison and Philip Roth.