Ha Jin
Winner of the 1999 FICTION AWARD for Waiting

If only I had written something for the speech. There are so many people to thank. I'm deeply humbled and honored. I accept this award as encouragement, with my deepest gratitude to many people. To the National Book Foundation, to the judges, and to my publisher, Pantheon Books. To my editor, LuAnn Walther, to my agent, Lane Zachary. I'm also very grateful to my wife, who has suffered because of my writing. I think I also wish to thank America, a land of generosity and abundance, that they accepted me as a citizen. Above all, I thank the English language, which is embracive and vibrant, and has provided me a niche where I can do meaningful work. Thank you.