Pulitzer Prize Winning Historical Fiction Books You Need to Read

One of the best ways to choose a book worth reading to see if it has won any accolades. Which is why we will be looking at Pulitzer Prize winning historical fiction books worth reading. Keep reading to see what books you should add to your reading list!

We have been on a marathon, covering the best historical fiction books over the past few weeks. I have read a lot of amazing historical fiction books but still have many more to read. This genre is one of my favorite and many of my favorite books tend to be historical fiction books.

And I want to find even more favorite books which is why we will be looking at Pulitzer Prize winning historical fiction books. Maybe in another article we will look at the nominations that should have won. But this list only focuses on the winners. You can see the full list below!

Pulitzer Prize Winning Historical Fiction Books

• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
• The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
• The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
• Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
• Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips
• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Before reading The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, I had no idea who Whitehead was. But after reading his 2017 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, I was hooked. His writing style and storytelling ability made it impossible to put this novel down.

The novel tells the story of Cora, a slave in the south during the 19th century. She attempts to escape slavery by following the Underground Railroad. What makes this alternate history special is the webs that Whitehead creates with his writing and showcases his ability as one of the best authors alive.

The Nickel Boys by Colton Whitehead

Colton Whitehead is such a special writer that won the Pulitzer Prize twice, making him one of four authors to do so. And Nickel Boys is a novel that deserved the Pulitzer Prize. The novel is completely different from his previous winner but just as good.

Elwood Curtis is a young black boy who is wrongly sentenced to Nickel Academy, a juvenile reform school that is supposed to turn them straight. But the school takes advantage of they boys and is filled with racism and abuse and surviving to see the next day is not guaranteed.

This novel is based on actual events and if it wasn’t for this novel, few people would know about this horrible event. Like many tragedies, it was buried and forgotten but people like Whitehead know how powerful a story can be. You will be angry and shocked and throughout it all, you will appreciate what Whitehead was able to accomplish with this novel.

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

The Sympathizer won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and ended up being named of the 30 best books of the year by The New York Times. The Vietnam War is one that is often ignored and forgotten. But this novel reminds us that millions of people were affected by it.

The novel is set in 1975 and the following years and takes place in Vietnam and Los Angeles. The protagonist is unnamed and is a half-Vietnamese, half-French undercover communist agent. He was sent to the United States as a kid to be educated and has a firm understanding of both American and Vietnamese values. 

Throughout the book, the unnamed protagonist tells us his story and being a double agent, trying to survive in the U.S in the 1970’s. His job requires him to be close to the General and report to his bosses even after the fall of Saigon.

It is a story about identity, love, survival, and what it means to live thousands of miles away from home follows and is a breath of fresh air as written by Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American professor. Novels like these are why the Pulitzer Prize Award was created and why I love reading the winners and nominations.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

a historical fiction novel that everyone has to read at least once is All the Light We Cannot See. It is a moving novel that that has great storytelling and characters that you can’t help by root for. Over the years, this novel has become fan favorite and rightfully so.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a beautifully written historical novel set during World War II, following the parallel lives of Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a gifted German boy. Marie-Laure grows up in Paris with her father, who works at the Museum of Natural History.

As the Nazis occupy France, they flee to the coastal town of Saint-Malo, carrying a mysterious and possibly cursed diamond from the museum. Despite her blindness, Marie-Laure navigates the world through detailed models built by her father, relying on memory, touch, and sound.

Werner, on the other hand, is an orphan in Germany with a natural talent for engineering and radios. His skills earn him a place at a brutal Nazi military school, where he is trained to track down illegal radio transmissions.

As the war intensifies, Werner becomes increasingly conflicted about his role in the Nazi regime, especially as he witnesses the destruction and suffering around him. His assignments eventually lead him to Saint-Malo, where resistance fighters are secretly broadcasting messages.

The two stories converge during the bombing of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure is hiding and broadcasting messages of her own. Werner tracks the signal, leading to a tense and emotional encounter that ultimately shapes both of their fates.

The novel explores themes of morality, survival, and the invisible connections between people, highlighting how even in the darkest times, small acts of kindness and courage can shine through.

Conclusion

These are the Pulitzer Prize winning historical fiction books worth reading and to add to your reading list. These are powerful novels that will tug at your heart while also giving you history lessons. There’s a good chance that you will learn about historical events that few people even know about.

How many of these books have you read or plan to read? What other historical fiction books would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!

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