History of Pulitzer Prize along with list of 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winners in Literature.
What is Pulitzer Prize?
The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of American (Hungarian-born) Joseph Pulitzer who had made his fortune as a newspaper publisher, and is administered by Columbia University in New York City. Prizes are awarded yearly in twenty-one categories. In twenty of the categories, each winner receives a certificate and a US$15,000 cash award (raised from $10,000 in 2017). The winner in the public service category of the journalism competition is awarded a gold medal. [Source: wikipedia]
History of Pulitzer Prize
Newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer gave money in his will to Columbia University to launch a journalism school and establish the Prize. It allocated $250,000 to the prize and scholarships. He specified "four awards in journalism, four in letters and drama, one in education, and four traveling scholarships. After his death on October 29, 1911, the first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded June 4, 1917; they are now announced each April. The Chicago Tribune under the control of Colonel McCormick felt that the Pulitzer Prize was nothing more than a 'mutual admiration society' and not to be taken seriously; the paper refused to compete for the prize during McCormick's tenure up until 1961. [Source: wikipedia]
2019 Pulitzer Prize Winners in Literature.
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It recognizes distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, published during the preceding calendar year. As the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel, it was one of the original Pulitzers; the program was inaugurated in 1917 with seven prizes, four of which were awarded that year. (No Novel prize was awarded in 1917; the first was awarded in 1918.). [Source: wikipedia]
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
The Overstory
The Overstory is a novel by Richard Powers published in 2018 by W.W. Norton. It is Powers's twelfth novel. The novel is about nine Americans whose unique life experiences with trees bring them together to address the destruction of forests. Powers was inspired to write the work while teaching at Stanford University after he encountered giant redwood trees for the first time. On 20 September 2018, The Overstory was shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize.
On 15 April 2019, it was awarded the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography
The Pulitzer Prize for Biography is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It has been presented since 1917 for a distinguished biography, autobiography or memoir by an American author or co-authors, published during the preceding calendar year. Thus it is one of the original Pulitzers, for the program was inaugurated in 1917 with seven prizes, four of which were awarded that year. [Source: wikipedia]
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Biography or Autobiography
The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke
The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke, is a 2018 biography of Alain LeRoy Locke written by historian Jeffrey C. Stewart. The biography examines the life of Locke, an African-American activist and scholar who mentored many African-American intellectuals and writers and who many see as the father" of the Harlem Renaissance. Published by Oxford University Press, The New Negro won the 2018 National Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Biography
Pulitzer Prize for History
The Pulitzer Prize for History, administered by Columbia University, is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It has been presented since 1917 for a distinguished book about the history of the United States. Thus it is one of the original Pulitzers, for the program was inaugurated in 1917 with seven prizes, four of which were awarded that year. The Pulitzer Prize program has also recognized some historical work with its Biography prize, from 1917, and its General Non-Fiction prize, from 1962. [Source: wikipedia]
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in History
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom is a 2018 biography of African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass, written by historian David W. Blight. It was published in 2018 by Simon & Schuster and won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for History.
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It is one of the original Pulitzers, for the program was inaugurated in 1917 with seven prizes, four of which were awarded that year. (No Drama prize was given, however, so that one was inaugurated in 1918, in a sense.) It recognizes a theatrical work staged in the U.S. during the preceding calendar year. [Source: wikipedia]
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Drama
Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury
Fairview is a 2018 play written by Jackie Sibblies Drury. The play was co-commissioned by Berkeley Rep and Soho Repertory Theatre.
The play premiered Off-Broadway at Soho Repertory Theatre, running from June 17, 2018 through August 12, 2018. The play was produced at Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, California in October and November 2018, again directed by Sarah Benson (the Artistic Director of Soho Rep) and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly.
The play is produced at Polonsky Shakespeare Center, Brooklyn, New York by Theatre for a New Audience starting on June 2, 2019, directed by Sarah Benson and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. The play's run has been extended from June 30 to July 28.
The play was produced in London at the Young Vic from November 28 2019 to January 18 2020. The production was directed by Nadia Latif. [Source: wikipedia]
Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
The Pulitzer Prize for Poetry is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It has been presented since 1922 for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author, published during the preceding calendar year. [Source: wikipedia].
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
Be With by Forrest Gander
Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
The Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It has been presented since 1962 for a distinguished book of non-fiction by an American author, published during the preceding calendar year, that is not eligible for consideration in another category. [Source: wikipedia]
Finalists have been announced from 1980, ordinarily two others beside the winner.
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America
2019 Pulitzer Prize Winners at a glance in the category of Books.
Fiction: The Overstory by Richard Powers
Nonfiction: Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America by Eliza Griswold
Drama: Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury
History: Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight
Autobiography or Biography: The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart
Poetry: Be With by Forrest Gander
