Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Awards » Pulitzer Prize - Literary Fiction

Pulitzer PrizeCategories: Literary Fiction, General Nonfiction, Biography, History, Drama, Poetry, Memoir / Autobiography
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper journalism, literature and musical composition. The Pulitzer was established by and named after the Hungarian-American publisher Joseph Pulitzer. The awards are administered by Columbia University in New York City. Prizes are awarded yearly in twenty-one categories. We've sorted our books by the six subcategories in the "letters and drama" category.

2023

Demon Copperhead
Demon Copperhead
Author: Barbara Kingsolver
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 2


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback

2022

The Netanyahus
The Netanyahus
Author: Joshua Cohen
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 2


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback

2021

The Night Watchman
The Night Watchman
Author: Louise Erdrich
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 9


Other Versions: Paperback

2020

The Nickel Boys
The Nickel Boys
Author: Colson Whitehead
  • Currently 2.9/5 Stars.
 4


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD, Paperback

2019

The Overstory
The Overstory
Author: Richard Powers
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 13


Other Versions: Paperback

2018

Less: A Novel
Less: A Novel
Author: Andrew Sean Greer
  • Currently 2.8/5 Stars.
 7


Other Versions: Paperback

2017

The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad
Author: Colson Whitehead
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 77


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

2016

The Sympathizer
The Sympathizer
Author: Viet Thanh Nguyen
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 8


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback

2015

All the Light We Cannot See
All the Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 288


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

2014

The Goldfinch: A Novel
The Goldfinch: A Novel
Author: Donna Tartt
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 192


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

2013

The Orphan Master's Son
The Orphan Master's Son
Author: Adam Johnson
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 52


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

2012

No Award Given

2011

A Visit from the Goon Squad
A Visit from the Goon Squad
Author: Jennifer Egan
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 87


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback

2010

Tinkers
Tinkers
Author: Paul Harding
  • Currently 2.9/5 Stars.
 137


Other Versions: Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback

2009

Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge, Bk 1)
Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge, Bk 1)
Author: Elizabeth Strout
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 909


Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Library), Audio CD (Unabridged), Audio CD (Library), Audio CD (MP3 Una), Audio CD (Abridged), Audio CD (Abridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Audio CD (MP3 Una), Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Audio CD (MP3 Una), Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback

2008

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Author: Junot Diaz
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 258


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
Retail Price: $24.95
Buy New: $17.39 (save 30%) or
Become a PBS member and pay $13.49+1 PBS book credit Help icon(save 45%)

2007

The Road
The Road
Author: Cormac McCarthy
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 2028


Other Versions: Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD, Audio CD, Audio CD, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

2006

March
March
Author: Geraldine Brooks
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 534


Other Versions: Audio CD, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Hardcover, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

2005

Gilead
Gilead
Author: Marilynne Robinson
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 226


Other Versions: Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover

2004

The Known World
The Known World
Author: Edward P. Jones
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 141


Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Today Show Book Club), Paperback, Audio Cassette (Today Show Book Club), Audio Cassette (Abridged)

2003

Middlesex
Middlesex
Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 295


Other Versions: Audio CD (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback

2002

Empire Falls
Empire Falls
Author: Richard Russo
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 153


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Audio CD, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

2001

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Author: Michael Chabon
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 166


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Audio CD (MP3 Abr), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Abridged), Paperback, Audio CD (Abridged), Audio CD (MP3 Abr), Audio CD (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged)

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
Retail Price: $30.00
Buy New: $20.49 (save 31%) or
Become a PBS member and pay $16.59+1 PBS book credit Help icon(save 44%)

2000

Interpreter of Maladies
Interpreter of Maladies
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 734


Other Versions: Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1999

The Hours
The Hours
Author: Michael Cunningham
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 404


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette (unabridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD, Audio CD (Abridged), Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1998

American Pastoral
American Pastoral
Author: Philip Roth
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 152


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1997

Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer
Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer
Author: Steven Millhauser
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 102


Other Versions: Hardcover, Hardcover

1996

Independence Day
Independence Day
Author: Richard Ford
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 28


Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1995

The Stone Diaries
The Stone Diaries
Author: Carol Shields
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 307


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD (4 CDs/5 hrs), Audio CD, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1994

The Shipping News
The Shipping News
Author: Annie Proulx
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 706


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD (Abridged), Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1993

A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
Author: Robert Olen Butler
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 53


Other Versions: Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1992

A Thousand Acres
A Thousand Acres
Author: Jane Smiley
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 271


Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover

1991

Rabbit at Rest (Harry Rabbit Angstrom, Bk 4)
Rabbit at Rest (Harry Rabbit Angstrom, Bk 4)
Author: John Updike
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 28


Other Versions: Paperback

1990

The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (Mambo Kings, Bk 1)
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (Mambo Kings, Bk 1)
Author: Oscar Hijuelos
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 55


Other Versions: Paperback

1989

Breathing Lessons
Breathing Lessons
Author: Anne Tyler
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 277


Other Versions: Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback

1988

Beloved
Beloved
Author: Toni Morrison
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 499


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

1987

A Summons to Memphis
A Summons to Memphis
Author: Peter Taylor
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 41


Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
Retail Price: $14.95
Buy New: $12.19 (save 18%) or
Become a PBS member and pay $8.29+1 PBS book credit Help icon(save 44%)

1986

Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove
Author: Larry McMurtry
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 106


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover

1985

Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Author: Alison Lurie
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 48


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover

1984

Ironweed
Ironweed
Author: William J. Kennedy
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 116


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover

1983

The Color Purple
The Color Purple
Author: Alice Walker
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 386


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (MP3 Una), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1982

Rabbit Is Rich (Harry Rabbit Angstrom, Bk 3)
Rabbit Is Rich (Harry Rabbit Angstrom, Bk 3)
Author: John Updike
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 28


Other Versions: Hardcover

1981

A Confederacy of Dunces
A Confederacy of Dunces
Author: John Kennedy Toole
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 607


Other Versions: Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unab MP3), Audio CD, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

1980

The Executioner's Song (Vintage International)
The Executioner's Song (Vintage International)
Author: Norman Mailer
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 74


Other Versions: Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unab MP3), Audio CD, Audio CD (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover

1979

The Stories of John Cheever
The Stories of John Cheever
Author: John Cheever
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 20


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members!
Retail Price: $18.00
Buy New: $13.79 (save 23%) or
Become a PBS member and pay $9.89+1 PBS book credit Help icon(save 45%)

1978

Elbow Room
Elbow Room
Author: James Alan Mcpherson
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 7


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

PBS Market Price: $8.09 or $4.19+1 credit

1977

No Award Given

1976

Humboldt's Gift
Humboldt's Gift
Author: Saul Bellow
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 17


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Audio CD (Unabridged)

1975

The Killer Angels (Civil War, Bk 2)
The Killer Angels (Civil War, Bk 2)
Author: Michael Shaara
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 401


Other Versions: Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD, Audio CD, Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback

1974

No Award Given

1973

The Optimist's Daughter
The Optimist's Daughter
Author: Eudora Welty
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 81


Other Versions: Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback

1972

Angle of Repose (Contemporary American Fiction)

1971

No Award Given

1970

The Collected Stories of Jean Stafford
The Collected Stories of Jean Stafford
Author: Jean Stafford
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 1


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback

1969

House Made of Dawn (Perennial Classics)

1968

The Confessions of Nat Turner
The Confessions of Nat Turner
Author: William Styron
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 42


Other Versions: Audio Cassette, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback

1967

The Fixer (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)

1966

The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
Author: Katherine Anne Porter
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 16


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback

1965

The Keepers of the House (Voices of the South)
The Keepers of the House (Voices of the South)
Author: Shirley Ann Grau
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 10


Other Versions: Paperback, Paperback, Audio Cassette, Paperback, Hardcover, Paperback