Pulitzer-winners on Storytelling and America: Percival Everett, Daniel Kraus, Amanda Vaill, Jon Cherry and Jelani Cobb

Join Chicago Public Library for a conversation about storytelling and America between Pulitzer winners working across multiple genres, celebrating the launch of the Pulitzer on the Road exhibition. The event will feature 2025 Fiction winner Percival Everett, 2026 Fiction winner Daniel Kraus and 2026 Biography winner Amanda Vaill, and 2022 Breaking News Photography winner Jon Cherry of Getty Images. They will be in conversation with Pulitzer board member and Dean of the Columbia Journalism School, Jelani Cobb. Percival Everett’s James, a retelling of Huckleberry Finn, won the 2025 Fiction Prize. Daniel Kraus’s Angel Down, a historical novel that blends magical realism and science fiction, won the Fiction prize this year. Amanda Vaill’s lively and sweeping Pride and Pleasure won the 2026 Biography prize. Jon Cherry was one of five Getty photographers awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2022 for their riveting photos of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. This event is the launch celebration of The Pulitzer on the Road traveling exhibition, developed by the Pulitzer Prizes in partnership with the American Library Association. The Chicago Public Library is the first site of the Pulitzer on the Road traveling exhibition, which will visit 20 public libraries across the country over two years. You can read more about the exhibition and full exhibition tour here. How to Attend: Doors to the Winter Garden open at 5p.m., and seating is first come, first served (280 capacity). Once the Winter Garden fills, overflow seating will be available for those who wish to view the live simulcast in the South Hall. (200 capacity). Books will be available for purchase but there is not a book signing. This event will also take place live on CPL's YouTube channel and CPL's Facebook page. You'll be able to ask questions during the event as well! Can't make it to the live stream? We'll archive the video on YouTube to watch later. Accessibility Automatic captioning is available via Facebook and YouTube's closed captioning setting. Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.