Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

The 2010 Pulitzer Prize for fiction has been awarded to Paul Harding for his debut novel Tinkers. With only eight days to live, George Washington Crosby’s thoughts drift back to his childhood and to the father who abandoned him when he was twelve. The life of George and his father, Howard, is explored through the metaphor of George’s hobby of repairing clocks.

Paul Harding has a MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he has taught writing at Harvard and the University of Iowa. He lives near Boston with his wife and two sons, Tinkers is his first novel.

Pulitzer prizes are awarded annually for achievements in American newspaper journalism, literature and music. The prize was established by Joseph Pulitzer, journalist and newspaper publisher, and administered by Columbia University. The first Pulitzer prizes were awarded in June, 1917; they are now announced each April. Recipients are selected by an independent board.

On a personal note, last year I had the pleasure hearing Mr. Harding speak at the American Library Association’s annual conference in Chicago, a humble man just hoping that someone would read his book. They sure have! Congratulations Paul.