Colson Whitehead Follow

Colson Whitehead, born in 1969 in Manhattan, graduated from Harvard and began his career at the Village Voice, writing reviews. His debut novel, The Intuitionist, was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award. His second novel, John Henry Days, was a Pulitzer finalist and won several awards.

Whitehead’s 2003 essay collection The Colossus of New York was a New York Times Notable Book. Apex Hides the Hurt (2006) and Sag Harbor (2009) followed, both receiving critical recognition. Zone One (2011) became a bestseller.

His 2016 novel The Underground Railroad won the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, and became a #1 bestseller. The Nickel Boys (2019) also won the Pulitzer. His 2021 novel Harlem Shuffle is part of the Harlem Trilogy, with Crook Manifesto releasing in 2023.

Whitehead has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, and others. His awards include a MacArthur Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Whiting Writers Award. In 2018, New York State named him its official author. He’s taught at various universities and lives in New York City.