Pulitzer Prize Fiction Category Dropped in Three-Way Tie
The annual Pulitzer Prize winners have been announced, but fans have noticed that one favorite category, Fiction, is noticeably absent. The Pulitzer Prize recognizes great achievements in journalism, literature, and music but was unable to determine a winner for fiction writing this year.
According to the Prize's website, the Fiction category honors "distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life." Nominees for the award this year were Denis Johnson's "Train Dreams," Karen Russell's "Swamplandia!" and the late David Foster Wallace's "The Pale King."
"The main reason (for not awarding a Fiction prize) is that no one of the three entries received a majority, and thus after lengthy consideration, no prize was awarded," explained Sig Gissler, administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes told the Associated Press.
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"There were multiple factors involved in these decisions, and we don't discuss in detail why a prize is given or not given," he added.
The prize has been a staple of the culture community since 1917, when it was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer. Winners receive a gold medallion and a cash prize of $10,000, in addition to bragging rights. It has also been documented that sales of literature and interest in music tend to increase after the prize is announced.
Winners in Journalism for 2012 include writers for The Huffington Post and The New York Times. In literature, "Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention" by the late Manning Marable took the Prize in History. "George F. Kennan: An American Life" by John Lewis won in the Biography category, while "Life on Mars" by Tracy K. Smith was awarded the Poetry prize.
"The Swerve: How the World Became Modern" by Stephen Greenblatt took the prize for General Nonfiction, while "Water by the Spoonful" by Quiara Alegria Hudes was awarded in the Drama genre. "Silent Night: Opera in Two Acts" by Kevin Puts took the Music prize for 2012.
Last year's Fiction winner, "A Visit from the Goon Squad" by Jennifer Egan examined the life of former rocker Bennie Salazar as he and his partner Sasha encountered a variety of people from the 1970s onwards. It also won the National Book Critics Circle Award and spent 54 weeks on NPR Paperback Fiction Bestseller List.
