Since 1917, the Pulitzer Prize for Letters has been awarded annually to American works of fiction, history, poetry, biography or autobiography, and general nonfiction.

The Prize

The Pulitzer Prize for Letters is accompanied by a $5,000 award paid from Pulitzer endowments.

Joseph Pulitzer

Born in Hungary in 1847, Joseph Pulitzer was a highly successful American newspaper publisher. His aggressive news coverage, innovative ideas, and crusades against corruption brought renown to both his papers, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World, and made the World the outstanding democratic organ in the United States. Joseph Pulitzer endowed the Pulitzer Prizes as well as what is now the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.

The Other Pulitzers

Fourteen Pulitzer Prizes are given in journalism. Pulitzers are also given for drama and music.