Beth Lew-Williams Wins the 2026 Cundill History Prize
Princeton historian Beth Lew-Williams has won the US$75,000 Cundill History Prize for John Doe Chinaman, a history of anti-Chinese law in the American West.
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The Pulitzer Prizes in The Publishing Times
The Pulitzer Prizes in journalism, letters and music, administered by Columbia University. Official site: www.pulitzer.org
Literary Prizes 2026: Booker, Pulitzer, National Book Award — What Winning Means for Sales
Major literary awards have long been viewed as trophies for artistic achievement, but in the modern publishing ecosystem, they function as powerful commercial a…
Norton Will Launch Norton Waverly, Its First New Imprint Since Young Readers
W. W. Norton will launch Norton Waverly in spring 2027, led by Karen Lotz. Kate DiCamillo's middle-grade novel is the debut on a short list built for shared reading.
Is It Too Late to Start Writing at 55?
Writers ask this one all the time, usually with an apology attached. The answer is no, and the proof has names.
Annie Dillard, Author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Dies at 81
Annie Dillard, whose Pilgrim at Tinker Creek won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction in 1975, died on September 15 at her home in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts. She was 81.
Obama's 'A Great Book' and the Spread of Literary Curation
When a former president devotes six episodes of a podcast to discussing novels and essays, the publishing industry takes notice. A Great Book with Barack Obama, an Audible Original produced with Higher Ground, debuted on September 24, 2026.
The Perennial Problem of the Prize
Three episodes at the Pulitzer, the Nobel and the Booker show what a prize depends on: a process readers can trust.
The Book Award Blight: Too Many Prizes, Too Little Meaning
An editorial on the spread of book awards, citing a 2014 study that found prizewinning books drew more readers but saw their Goodreads ratings fall faster than shortlisted books.
The Perils of Prizes: How Book Awards and Review Culture Can Mislead Readers
Research by Balázs Kovács and Amanda Sharkey found prizewinners' ratings fall after a win, and fake reviews and paid awards can also mislead. How to read these signals well.
Book Awards: More Than Just Gilded Statuettes?
Prizes shape what readers buy and how they judge books, and how a prize is run affects how much trust it deserves. What the evidence shows.
Book Review: ‘Unsayable,’ by Michael Cunningham
Michael Cunningham's new memoir, 'Unsayable,' explores the profound challenge of articulating the inexpressible, offering a masterclass in personal narrative and the creative process for all writers, especially indie authors.
Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead review - final part of the Harlem Trilogy is freewheeling fun
Colson Whitehead's "Cool Machine" concludes his Harlem Trilogy, blending vibrant crime fiction with deep societal themes. It's a masterclass for authors in crafting compelling characters and settings.
Booker, Pulitzer and National Book Award: What Winning Means for Sales
Winning a major literary prize can transform a book's commercial trajectory overnight.
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