Pulitzer Prizes

Established in 1917, the Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in American journalism, literature, and music administered by Columbia University. The most notable literary award categories include fiction, drama, biography, nonfiction, history and poetry. Submissions for literature must be written by an American citizen, the work must be written in English, and it should have been published within the past calendar year prior to the award year. Each category has its own panel of experts who read, review and debate all of the submissions within their category. Each panel or "Jury" selects three finalists who are then passed along to the Pulitzer Prize Board for a final vote. Winners of the Pulitzer Prize are typically announced in April each year and the winners receive a certificate and cash prize, along with the prestige of winning the Pulitzer Prize. Explore Barnes & Noble for lists of the most recent and previous Pulitzer Prize book winners for fiction, poetry, drama, biography, nonfiction, and history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which author has won the most Pulitzer prizes?
In the literary categories, Robert Frost has won the Pultizer Prize four times for his poetry.

Why is it called a Pulitzer Prize?
The Pulitzer Prize is named after Joseph Pulitzer, who gave money in his will to Columbia University to launch a journalism school and give out the Pulitzer Prize.

What book categories are there?
The literature categories are fiction, drama, history, biography or autobiography, poetry and general nonfiction.