The Society of American Historians Prize for Historical Fiction, formerly known as the James Fenimore Cooper Prize, is a biennial award given for the best Historical American fiction by the Society of American Historians. It is awarded in the odd-numbered years.

History

The prize has been awarded since 1993. It is given to honor a work of literary fiction that "makes a significant contribution to historical understanding, portrays authentically the people and events of the historical past, and displays skills in narrative construction and prose style" and that concerns American history. The prize, which until 2018 was named for nineteenth-century American historical novelist James Fenimore Cooper, carries a cash award of .

Awards

* 1993: ''

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'' by Noah Gordon * 1995: '' In the Lake of the Woods'' by Tim O'Brien * 1997: '' The Cattle Killing'' by

John Edgar Wideman John Edgar Wideman (born June 14, 1941) is an American novelist, short story writer, memoirist, and essayist. He was the first person to win the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction twice. His writing is known for experimental techniques and a focus o ...

* 1999: '' Gain'' by

Richard Powers Richard Powers (born June 18, 1957) is an American novelist whose works explore the effects of modern science and technology. His novel '' The Echo Maker'' won the 2006 National Book Award for Fiction.A Dangerous Friend'' by

Ward Just Ward Swift Just (September 5, 1935 – December 19, 2019) was an American writer. He was a war correspondent and the author of 19 novels and numerous short stories. Biography Just was born in Michigan City, Indiana, attended Lake Forest Academy ...

and '' Bone by Bone'' by

Peter Matthiessen Peter Matthiessen (May 22, 1927 – April 5, 2014) was an American novelist, naturalist, wilderness writer, zen teacher and CIA Operative. A co-founder of the literary magazine ''The Paris Review'', he was the only writer to have won the Nation ...

* 2003: ''

Paradise Alley ''Paradise Alley'' is a 1978 American sports drama film written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone (in his feature directorial debut). The film tells the story of three Italian American brothers in Hell's Kitchen in the 1940s who beco ...

'' by Kevin Baker * 2005: ''

The Plot Against America ''The Plot Against America'' is a novel by Philip Roth published in 2004. It is an alternative history in which Franklin D. Roosevelt is defeated in the presidential election of 1940 by Charles Lindbergh. The novel follows the fortunes of the R ...

'' by

Philip Roth Philip Milton Roth (March 19, 1933 – May 22, 2018) was an American novelist and short story writer. Roth's fiction—often set in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey—is known for its intensely autobiographical character, for philosophicall ...

* 2007: ''

The Last Town on Earth ''The Last Town on Earth'' is a 2006 novel by American writer Thomas Mullen. The novel explores events in the fictional town of Commonwealth, Washington in 1918 during World War I and the Spanish flu epidemic. The town agrees to quarantine itsel ...

'' by

Thomas Mullen Thomas Mullen (20 June 1896 – 2 January 1966) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and school teacher. He was born in Roemore, Breaffy, County Mayo, to primary school teacher parents, Thomas and Mary Mullen (née Coggins).Deaths, ''Irish Ind ...

* 2009: ''

Loving Frank ''Loving Frank'' is a 2007 American novel by Nancy Horan. It tells the story of Mamah Borthwick and her illicit love affair with Frank Lloyd Wright amidst the public shame they experienced in early twentieth century America. This fictional accou ...

'' by

Nancy Horan Nancy Horan is an American author of historical fiction. Her works include '' Loving Frank'', a novel about Mamah Borthwick and her relationship with American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and ''Under the Wide and Starry Sky'', a novel about the re ...

* 2011: '' Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War'' by

Karl Marlantes Karl Arthur Marlantes (born December 24, 1944) is an American author and Vietnam War veteran. He has written three books: '' Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War'' (2010), ''What it is Like to go to War'' (2011), and ''Deep River' ...

* 2013: ''Remember Ben Clayton'' by Stephen Harrigan * 2015: ''Saint Monkey'' by Jacinda Townsend * 2017: No prize awarded * 2019: ''

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'' by

Tommy Orange Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fi ...

* 2021: ''Conjure Women'' by Afia Atakora

References

External links

*{{Official website, https://sah.columbia.edu/content/prizes/society-american-historians-prize-historical-fiction-formerly-known-james-fenimore American literary awards James Fenimore Cooper