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Pulitzer Prizes 2010
The 2010 Pulitzer Prizewinners and Nominated Finalists were announced Monday, April 12, 2010. Below are the winners and finalists in Letters, Drama, and Music.
Fiction
For distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life.
Winner
Harding Paul
Tinkers
"Awarded to "Tinkers," by Paul Harding (Bellevue Literary Press), a powerful celebration of life in which a New England father and son, through suffering and joy, transcend their imprisoning lives and offer new ways of perceiving the world and mortality."
Read more about it at NPR.
Tinkers
"Awarded to "Tinkers," by Paul Harding (Bellevue Literary Press), a powerful celebration of life in which a New England father and son, through suffering and joy, transcend their imprisoning lives and offer new ways of perceiving the world and mortality."
Read more about it at NPR.
Finalists
Millet, Lydia
Love in Infant Monkeys: Stories
"an imaginative collection of linked stories, often describing a memorable encounter between a famous person and an animal, underscoring the human folly of longing for significance while chasing trifles"
Love in Infant Monkeys: Stories
"an imaginative collection of linked stories, often describing a memorable encounter between a famous person and an animal, underscoring the human folly of longing for significance while chasing trifles"
Mueenuddin, Daniyal
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders
"a collection of beautifully crafted stories that exposes the Western reader to the hopes, dreams and dramas of an array of characters in feudal Pakistan, resulting in both an aesthetic and cultural achievement."
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders
"a collection of beautifully crafted stories that exposes the Western reader to the hopes, dreams and dramas of an array of characters in feudal Pakistan, resulting in both an aesthetic and cultural achievement."
Return to the topHistory
For a distinguished and appropriately documented book on the history of the United States.
Winner
Ahamed, Liaquat
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
HG172.A2 A43 2009
"a compelling account of how four powerful bankers played crucial roles in triggering the Great Depression and ultimately transforming the United States into the world’s financial leader."
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
HG172.A2 A43 2009
"a compelling account of how four powerful bankers played crucial roles in triggering the Great Depression and ultimately transforming the United States into the world’s financial leader."
Finalists
Grandin, Greg
Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford’s Forgotten Jungle City
F2651.F55 G72 2009
"an evocative, heavily researched examination of an industrial giant’s grandiose scheme to create a model rubber plantation deep in the Amazon forest"
Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford’s Forgotten Jungle City
F2651.F55 G72 2009
"an evocative, heavily researched examination of an industrial giant’s grandiose scheme to create a model rubber plantation deep in the Amazon forest"
Wood, Gordon S.
Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815
E164.W63 2009
"a lucid exploration of a turbulent era when a profoundly changing America, despite the sin of slavery, came to see itself as a beacon to the world, demonstrating human capacity for self-government."
Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815
E164.W63 2009
"a lucid exploration of a turbulent era when a profoundly changing America, despite the sin of slavery, came to see itself as a beacon to the world, demonstrating human capacity for self-government."
Biography or Autobiography
For a distinguished and appropriately documented biography or autobiography by an American author
Winner
Stiles, T.J
The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt
CT275.V23 S85 2009
"a penetrating portrait of a complex, self-made titan who revolutionized transportation, amassed vast wealth and shaped the economic world in ways still felt today"
The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt
CT275.V23 S85 2009
"a penetrating portrait of a complex, self-made titan who revolutionized transportation, amassed vast wealth and shaped the economic world in ways still felt today"
Finalists
Bailey, Blake
Cheever: A Life
PS3505.H6428 Z53 2009
"an absorbing, impeccably researched exploration of the famed writer John Cheever, illuminating his greatness as well as flaws, told in a compelling voice worthy of the subject"
Cheever: A Life
PS3505.H6428 Z53 2009
"an absorbing, impeccably researched exploration of the famed writer John Cheever, illuminating his greatness as well as flaws, told in a compelling voice worthy of the subject"
Cooper, John Milton
Woodrow Wilson: A Biography
E767.C695 2009
"a magisterial work that corrects erroneous perceptions and casts important new light on one of the most pivotal and enigmatic American presidents, fully placing the man in the context of his times."
Woodrow Wilson: A Biography
E767.C695 2009
"a magisterial work that corrects erroneous perceptions and casts important new light on one of the most pivotal and enigmatic American presidents, fully placing the man in the context of his times."
General Nonfiction
For a distinguished and appropriately documented book of nonfiction by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category
Winner
Hoffman, David E. (David Emanuel)
The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy
U264.H645 2009
"a well documented narrative that examines the terrifying doomsday competition between two superpowers and how weapons of mass destruction still imperil humankind"
The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy
U264.H645 2009
"a well documented narrative that examines the terrifying doomsday competition between two superpowers and how weapons of mass destruction still imperil humankind"
Finalists
Cassidy, John
How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities
HB3722.C37 2009
"a work that probes the complexity of the Great Recession, using solid research and precise documentation to reveal not only a gripping human drama but also a tense clash of ideas"
How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities
HB3722.C37 2009
"a work that probes the complexity of the Great Recession, using solid research and precise documentation to reveal not only a gripping human drama but also a tense clash of ideas"
Wright, Robert
The Evolution of God
"a sweeping look at the origins and development of religious belief throughout human history"
The Evolution of God
"a sweeping look at the origins and development of religious belief throughout human history"
Poetry
For a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author
Winner
Armantrout, Rae
Versed
PS3551.R455 V47 2009
"a book striking for its wit and linguistic inventiveness, offering poems that are often little thought-bombs detonating in the mind long after the first reading"
Versed
PS3551.R455 V47 2009
"a book striking for its wit and linguistic inventiveness, offering poems that are often little thought-bombs detonating in the mind long after the first reading"
Finalists
Estes, Angie
Tryst
"a collection of poems remarkable for its variety of subjects, array of genres and nimble use of language"
Tryst
"a collection of poems remarkable for its variety of subjects, array of genres and nimble use of language"
Perillo, Lucia Maria
Inseminating the Elephant
PS3566.E69146 I67 2009
"a collection of poems, often laced with humor, that examine popular culture, the limits of the human body and the tragicomic aspects of everyday experience"
Inseminating the Elephant
PS3566.E69146 I67 2009
"a collection of poems, often laced with humor, that examine popular culture, the limits of the human body and the tragicomic aspects of everyday experience"
Music
For distinguished musical composition by an American that has had its first performance or recording in the United States during the year
Winner
Higdon, Jennifer
Violin Concerto
"premiered on February 6, 2009, in Indianapolis, IN, a deeply engaging piece that combines flowing lyricism with dazzling virtuosity"
Read more about Jennifer Higdon who served as Composer-in-Residence with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2005-06.
Violin Concerto
"premiered on February 6, 2009, in Indianapolis, IN, a deeply engaging piece that combines flowing lyricism with dazzling virtuosity"
Read more about Jennifer Higdon who served as Composer-in-Residence with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2005-06.
Finalists
Lerdahl, Fred
"String Quartet No. 3"
"premiered on December 8, 2009, in Cleveland, Ohio, a remarkable work that displays impeccable technical facility and palpable emotion"
Read more about Fred Lerdahl.
"String Quartet No. 3"
"premiered on December 8, 2009, in Cleveland, Ohio, a remarkable work that displays impeccable technical facility and palpable emotion"
Read more about Fred Lerdahl.
Wolfe, Julia
Steel Hammer
"premiered on November 13, 2009, in Gainesville, FL, an innovative composition that, with voices and old-time instruments, turns the old folk tune “John Henry” into an epic distillation of Appalachia"
Learn more about Julia Wolfe from Schirmers.
Steel Hammer
"premiered on November 13, 2009, in Gainesville, FL, an innovative composition that, with voices and old-time instruments, turns the old folk tune “John Henry” into an epic distillation of Appalachia"
Learn more about Julia Wolfe from Schirmers.
Drama
For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life.
Winner
Kitt, Tom
Next to Normal
"a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals"
Next to Normal
"a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals"
Finalists
Diaz, Kristoffer
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
"a play invoking the exaggerated role-playing of professional wrestling to explore themes from globalization to ethnic stereotyping, as the audience becomes both intimate insider and ringside spectator"
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
"a play invoking the exaggerated role-playing of professional wrestling to explore themes from globalization to ethnic stereotyping, as the audience becomes both intimate insider and ringside spectator"
Joseph, Rajiv
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
"a play about the chaotic Iraq war that uses a network of characters, including a caged tiger, to ponder violent, senseless death, blending social commentary with tragicomic mayhem"
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
"a play about the chaotic Iraq war that uses a network of characters, including a caged tiger, to ponder violent, senseless death, blending social commentary with tragicomic mayhem"
Ruhl, Sarah
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
"an inventive work that mixes comedy and drama as it examines the medical practice of a 19th century American doctor and confronts questions of female sexuality and emancipation"
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
"an inventive work that mixes comedy and drama as it examines the medical practice of a 19th century American doctor and confronts questions of female sexuality and emancipation"
