Paul Harding wins Pulitzer for his first novel

The winners of the 2010 Pultizer Prizes were announced yesterday. The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most important yearly writing awards in the United States. Only Americans may win the awards, and their work must be about distinctly American issues.

In fiction, Boston area writer and professional drummer Paul Harding won for his first novel, Tinkers. A bittersweet, exquisitely detailed story of epilepsy, aging, mortality, and fatherhood, the novel was published by Bellevue Literary Press, a small publisher that specializes in medical and scientific writing. This is the first time in almost three decades (since A Confederacy of Dunces, published by the Louisiana State University Press, in 1981) that the winner has not been a large release from a major publisher.

In drama, the musical Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey (book, lyrics) and Tom Kitt (music) won. A musical has not won in the best play category since RENT in 1996.

In poetry, veteran poet Rae Armantrout of San Diego won for her collection Versed.