The Yellow Birds

Kevin Powers is a celebrated American novelist and poet whose work captures the complexities of war and its aftermath. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, he bolstered his candid worldview with a degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a Master’s in Poetry from the prestigious Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Austin. Powers served in the U.S. Army, deploying as a machine gunner in Mosul and Tal Afar, Iraq in 2004 and 2005. His military experience significantly shaped his creative perspective, fusing a profound understanding of humanity with first-hand war zone realities. The result was his powerful debut novel, "The Yellow Birds," which won an array of accolades, including the 2013 Pen/Hemingway Award, The Guardian's First Book Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. Beyond his acclaimed novels, Powers has a formidable reputation as a poet. His first collection, "Letter Composed During a Lull in the Fighting," was shortlisted for both the T.S. Eliot Prize in the United Kingdom and the Forward Prize for Best Collection. Today, he continues to weave his exceptional literary craft, bridging the gaps between bravery and fear, loss, and survival, with remarkable authenticity and poise.