''Paco's Story'' is 1987 novel by

Larry Heinemann Larry Curtis Heinemann (January 18, 1944 – December 11, 2019) was an American novelist born and raised in Chicago. His published work – three novels and a memoir – is primarily concerned with the Vietnam War. Life Heinemann served a comb ...

. The novel is his second and it won the 1987 U.S.

National Book Award for Fiction The National Book Award for Fiction is one of five annual National Book Awards, which recognize outstanding literary work by United States citizens. Since 1987 the awards have been administered and presented by the National Book Foundation, but ...

"National Book Awards – 1987"

National Book Foundation The National Book Foundation (NBF) is an American nonprofit organization established, "to raise the cultural appreciation of great writing in America". Established in 1989 by National Book Awards, Inc.,Edwin McDowell. "Book Notes: 'The Joy Luc ...

. Retrieved 2012-03-26. (With essays by Patricia Smith and Harold Augenbraum from the Awards 60-year anniversary blog.) in a major surprise that has remained controversial."An Upset at the Book Awards", Edwin McDowell, ''The New York Times'', November 10, 1987, page C13. • "In a stunning literary upset ..." "Book Awards Are Pondered", Edwin McDowell, ''The New York Times'', November 12, 1987, page C27. • "Although the literary and publishing communities have had two days to recover ... they continue to express astonishment that the novel by Larry Heinemann beat the widely celebrated and praised novels by Toni Morrison and Philip Roth. "'Everybody and their brother thought Toni Morrison was going to win it,' said Gerald Howard, executive editor of Penguin, which published the paperback edition of ''Paco's Story'' just this week.""Did 'Paco's Story' Deserve Its Award?", Michiko Kakutani, ''The New York Times'', November 16, 1987, page C15. • "What happened? ... Members of the literary community had widely regarded

Toni Morrison Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison (born Chloe Ardelia Wofford; February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019), known as Toni Morrison, was an American novelist. Her first novel, ''The Bluest Eye'', was published in 1970. The critically acclaimed '' So ...

's novel ''Beloved'' as a virtual shoo-in for the prize (with ''The Counterlife'' 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 ...

also a strong contender) and the announcement last Monday ... was greeted with expressions of surprise and astonishment." Menand, Louis
"All That Glitters: Literature’s global economy"
(review of ''The Economy of Prestige'' by James English), ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...

'', December 26, 2005/January 2, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-11. In particular, the ''New York Times'' was surprised by the win, soliciting commentary from other critical reviewers, like the ''LA Times.''

References

1987 novels National Book Award for Fiction winning works Novels set during the Vietnam War {{1980s-war-novel-stub