First Jewish Woman to Win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

American novelist Edna Ferber was the recipient of the 'Pulitzer Prize for Novel — So Big, 1925', making her the first Jewish woman to win the award in the category now known as Fiction. The prize was awarded in New York, New York, in 1925 for her novel So Big. The category itself, originally established as Novel, was later renamed Fiction.

Ferber’s status as the inaugural Jewish winner is confirmed by Jewish recipient chronologies for the Pulitzer Prize in this category. These historical lists begin with her 1925 achievement, establishing her not only as the first Jewish woman but as the first Jewish person of any gender to be recognised with the prestigious literary honour. At the time of her win, Ferber was an established American Jewish novelist, short-story writer, and playwright.

Award-date verification (JWR, 7 November 2026): The 1925 Pulitzer Prizes were announced in late April rather than conferred at a separately documented modern-style presentation ceremony. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat of 27 April 1925 carried the contemporary headline '$1,000 Pulitzer Prize Won by Edna Ferber for Novel, So Big'. The Pulitzer Prize organization reproduces a contemporaneous juror's letter expressly referring to speaking publicly after 27 April, consistent with that announcement date. Consequently, 27 April 1925 is adopted as the dated public award announcement, not as a verified in-person ceremony or delivery of an award object. The Pulitzer Prize official winner register independently verifies Edna Ferber as the 1925 Novel-category winner for So Big; the category was renamed Fiction in 1947. Sources: Pulitzer.org/winners/edna-ferber; Pulitzer.org/article/juror-helps-friend-leading-iniquitous-result; St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 27 April 1925, p. 3.