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For distinguished fiction published in book form during the year by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, One thousand dollars ($1,000).

A Confederacy of Dunces , by John Kennedy Toole (Louisiana State U. Press )

Finalists

Nominated as finalists in Fiction in 1981:

The Jury

Jonathan Yardley*

Book Editor, The Washington Star

Joy Gould Boyum

Professor of English, New York University; Film Critic, The Wall Street Journal

Peter S. Prescott

Book Critic, Newsweek

Winners in Fiction

1981 Prize Winners