English & Literary Arts Doctoral Candidate Awarded Etel Adnan Prize

Antony Fangary, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in the Department of English & Literary Studies, part of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS), was awarded this year’s Etel Adnan Prize for his first book, Sour River. His work focuses on decolonial/post-colonial theory, war literature, and contemporary poetry. 

“Winning the Etel Adnan Prize, named after one of the most significant Arab writers from the past century, means more than I can put into language,” Fangary said. “One of the motivations for my book was the killing of my maternal great-grandfather by occupying British soldiers in Egypt before the 1956 Revolution.” Fangary also noted the continued expression of necropolitical power by Western and Western-influenced states in the region as another motivation for the themes his latest book explores 

For Fangary, winning this prize resembles an emerging appetite in the field for poetry that critiques imperialism. This prestigious recognition also reflects the impact of the University of Denver’s English department on Fangary’s success, citing that CAHSS faculty have been deeply important to his Professional and personal development. 

Fangary called out professors Jennifer Soong, Graham Foust, W. Scott Howard, Maik Nwosu, Joanna Howard, and Poupeh Missaghi, who have all profoundly shaped the way he understands poetry, literature, and criticism. 

“They have given me the critical background, formal rigor, and intellectual confidence necessary to pursue my career aspirations, and their mentorship has transformed the way I view both poetry and the field more broadly.” 

Congratulations to Fangary on this tremendous achievement – a testament to his dedication and creative excellence in the humanities.