For distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, Five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Awarded to Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser (Crown)

Columbia University President, George Rupp (left), presents Steven Millhauser with the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Finalists

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Unlocking the Air and Other Stories" by Ursula K. LeGuin (HarperCollins), and "The Manikin" by Joanna Scott (Henry Holt).