PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 1918-2004

The Hungarian-born Joseph Pulitzer was an innovative publisher of the New York World and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. When he died in 1904, his will provided for the establishment of the Pulitzer Prizes as an incentive to excellence. Pulitzer specified solely four awards in journalism, four in letters and drama, one for education, and four traveling scholarships. In letters, prizes were to go to an American novel, an original American play performed in New York, a book on the history of the United States, an American biography, and a history of public service by the press. Since the inception of the prizes in 1917, the Pulitzer Prize Board has increased the number of awards to 21 and introduced poetry, music, and photography as subjects, while adhering to the spirit of the founder's will and intent. The prize for the novel, whose winners are shown below, honors books that address the largest themes in life, the raw passion and tragedy of the human condition.