Louise Erdrich wins Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize for contributions to the arts

Louise Erdrich, the 72-year-old American author, has been awarded the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, a top arts honor. The prize, established by the will of silent film actresses Dorothy and Lillian Gish, recognizes outstanding contributions to the arts. Erdrich, a Pulitzer and National Book Award winner, is also the co-founder of Birchbark Books, an independent bookstore in Minneapolis. The award was announced on Friday, and Erdrich expressed appreciation for the Gish sisters' inclusive approach to filmmaking, which resonated with her own work as a bookseller. The prize has previously been won by Bob Dylan and Ava DuVernay.