The 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been awarded to Percival Everett for his novel James, a bold and poignant retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who journeys with Huck. The novel has been praised for its powerful voice, re-centering of historical narrative, and exploration of racial identity and freedom.
The Pulitzer committee called the book “an accomplished reconsideration of Huckleberry Finn that gives agency to Jim to illustrate the absurdity of racial supremacy and provide a new take on the search for family and freedom.”
Highlights from the 2025 Pulitzer Prize Winners
While Everett’s win drew major attention in the Letters and Drama category, the Journalism awards also spotlighted crucial reporting across the nation and globe, including coverage of the fentanyl crisis, Sudan’s conflict, and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. 
Key journalism winners include:
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Public Service: ProPublica, for exposing the consequences of vague abortion laws.
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Breaking News Reporting: The Washington Post, for coverage of the Trump assassination attempt.
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Investigative Reporting: Reuters, for a deep dive into the fentanyl supply chain.
Notable Book, Drama, and Music Winners
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Drama: Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins — a multigenerational exploration of a Civil Rights leader’s legacy.
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History: Two winners — Native Nations by Kathleen DuVal and Combee by Edda L. Fields-Black — for their vivid portrayals of Indigenous resilience and Black freedom.
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Biography: Every Living Thing by Jason Roberts, spotlighting Linnaeus and Buffon’s race to classify nature.
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Memoir: Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls, a graphic memoir spanning generations of Chinese women.
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Poetry: New and Selected Poems by Marie Howe, touching on life’s spiritual and everyday struggles.
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Music: Sky Islands by Susie Ibarra, a dynamic work blending soloist improvisation and environmental themes.
Honoring Courage and Commentary
Pulitzer administrator Marjorie Miller opened the ceremony with a sobering reflection on modern threats to journalism, including book bans, legal intimidation, and attempts to rewrite history. She praised this year’s honorees for “courageous reporting and impactful storytelling.”
One standout was Ann Telnaes, former cartoonist for The Washington Post, who received the prize for Illustrated Reporting and Commentary after resigning earlier this year when a cartoon mocking tech and media deference to Trump was rejected by her editor.
A special citation was awarded to Chuck Stone, posthumously honored for his civil rights journalism and for co-founding the National Association of Black Journalists.
