2010 Pulitzer Prizes in Letters

Fiction

For distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, Ten thousand dollars.

Awarded to "Tinkers," by Paul Harding, a powerful celebration of life in which a New England father and son, through suffering and joy, transcend their imprisoning lives and offer new ways of perceiving the world and mortality.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were "Love in Infant Monkeys," by Lydia Millet, an imaginative collection of linked stories, often describing a memorable encounter between a famous person and an animal, underscoring the human folly of longing for significance while chasing trifles; and “In Other Rooms, Other Wonders,” by Daniyal Mueenuddin, a collection of beautifully crafted stories that exposes the Western reader to the hopes, dreams and dramas of an array of characters in feudal Pakistan, resulting in both an aesthetic and cultural achievement.

History

For a distinguished and appropriately documented book on the history of the United States, Ten thousand dollars.

Awarded to “Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World,” by Liaquat Ahamed, a compelling account of how four powerful bankers played crucial roles in triggering the Great Depression and ultimately transforming the United States into the world’s financial leader.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were “Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford’s Forgotten Jungle City,” by Greg Grandin, an evocative, heavily researched examination of an industrial giant’s grandiose scheme to create a model rubber plantation deep in the Amazon forest; and “Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815,” by Gordon S. Wood, a lucid exploration of a turbulent era when a profoundly changing America, despite the sin of slavery, came to see itself as a beacon to the world, demonstrating human capacity for self-government.

Biography or Autobiography

For a distinguished and appropriately documented biography or autobiography by an American author, Ten thousand dollars.

Awarded to “The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt,” by T.J Stiles, a penetrating portrait of a complex, self-made titan who revolutionized transportation, amassed vast wealth and shaped the economic world in ways still felt today.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were “Cheever: A Life,” by Blake Bailey, an absorbing, impeccably researched exploration of the famed writer John Cheever, illuminating his greatness as well as flaws, told in a compelling voice worthy of the subject; and “Woodrow Wilson: A Biography,” by John Milton Cooper Jr., a magisterial work that corrects erroneous perceptions and casts important new light on one of the most pivotal and enigmatic American presidents, fully placing the man in the context of his times.

General Nonfiction

For a distinguished and appropriately documented book of nonfiction by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category, Ten thousand dollars.

Awarded to “The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy,” by David E. Hoffman, a well documented narrative that examines the terrifying doomsday competition between two superpowers and how weapons of mass destruction still imperil humankind.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: “How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities,” by John Cassidy, a work that probes the complexity of the Great Recession, using solid research and precise documentation to reveal not only a gripping human drama but also a tense clash of ideas; and “The Evolution of God,” by Robert Wright, a sweeping look at the origins and development of religious belief throughout human history.