US-born author wins first book award

Acclaimed writer Jonathan Safran Foer tonight landed the £10,000 (€15,800) Guardian First Book Award 2002.

The US-born author, who is just 25 and lives in New York, took the title with his novel Everything Is Illuminated.

His book follows the tale of a young Jewish American in his search for a woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis.

Chair of judges Claire Armitstead, The Guardian’s literary editor said: “Safran Foer’s debut is an incredible achievement.

“At just 25 he has produced a brilliantly original work that explores the very nature of ‘the novel’.

“He is one of the most exciting writers of his generation and has the potential to go on to even greater things.”

The Guardian First Book Award aims to recognise and reward is open to first time writers of fiction, poetry, biography, memoirs, history, politics, science and current affairs.

Safran Foer flew in specially to collect the award from Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger and broadcaster Mark Lawson.

Judges included novelists Irvine Welsh and Kate Atkinson.