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About Harper's Magazine

Harper's Magazine, the oldest general interest monthly in America, explores the issues that drive our national conversation through such celebrated features as Readings, Annotation, and Findings, as well as the iconic Harper's Index. With its emphasis on fine writing and original thought Harper's Magazine provides readers with a unique perspective on politics, society, the environment, and culture. The essays, fiction, and reporting in the magazine's pages come from promising new voices as well as some of the most distinguished names in American letters, among them Tom Wolfe, Annie Dillard, Barbara Ehrenreich, T.C. Boyle, Jonathan Franzen, David Foster Wallace and Mary Gaitskill.

The History of Harper's

Harper’s Magazine made its debut in June 1850, the brainchild of the prominent New York book-publishing firm Harper & Brothers. The initial press run of 7,500 copies sold out immediately, and within six months circulation had reached 50,000.

Although the earliest issues consisted largely of material that had already been published in England, the magazine soon began to print the work of American artists and writers — among them Horace Greeley, Horatio Alger, Stephen A. Douglas, Winslow Homer, Mark Twain, Frederic Remington, Theodore Dreiser, John Muir, Booth Tarkington, Henry James, William Dean Howells, and Jack London. Several departments served to note regularly important events of the day, such as the publication of Herman Melville's new novel Moby-Dick; the laying of the first trans-Atlantic cable; the latest discoveries from Thomas Edison's workshop; the progress of the crusade for women's rights.

In more recent years, the magazine published Woodrow Wilson and Winston Churchill long before either man became a political leader. Theodore Roosevelt wrote for Harper’s, as did Henry L. Stimson when he defended the bombing of Hiroshima. In the 1970s, Harper’s Magazine broke Seymour Hersh's account of the My Lai massacre and devoted a full issue to Norman Mailer's “The Prisoner of Sex.”

Over the years, the magazine's format has been revamped, its general appearance has evolved considerably, and ownership has changed hands. In 1962, Harper & Brothers merged with Row, Peterson, & Company to become Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). Some years later the magazine became a separate corporation and a division of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company. In 1980, when the parent company announced that Harper’s Magazine would cease publication, John R. (Rick) MacArthur and his father, Roderick, urged the boards of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Atlantic Richfield Company to make a grant of assets and funds to form the Harper’s Magazine Foundation, which now operates the magazine.

In 1984, Harper’s Magazine was completely redesigned by editor Lewis H. Lapham and MacArthur, who had become publisher of Harper’s Magazine and president of the Foundation. Recognizing the time constraints of the modern reader, the revived magazine introduced such original journalistic forms as the Harper’s Index, Readings, and the Annotation to complement its acclaimed fiction, essays, and reporting. Throughout the years Harper’s has received eleven National Magazine Awards, among many other journalistic and literary honors.

The year 2000 marked the sesquicentennial of Harper’s Magazine and, to celebrate, the magazine has introduced several new editorial inventions and restorations: Archive, Map, and Review. It has also published An American Album: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Harper’s Magazine, a 712-page illustrated anthology -- with an introduction by Lewis H. Lapham and a foreword by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. -- a cloth-bound volume that offers a unique perspective on American life, distilled from the pages of the nation's oldest continuously published monthly magazine.

Honors & Awards

2003

National Magazine Award

Winner, Feature Writing, for “Horseman, Pass By,” (October 2002) by John Jeremiah Sullivan.

Finalist, General Excellence, ( circulation 100,000 to 250,000) for March, October, and December issues.

Finalist, Public Interest, for “Ex-Con Game,” (March 2002) by Greg Palast.

Finalist, Reviews and Criticism, for “The Vindications,” (February 2002); “Last the Night,” (July 2002); and “The Unbearable Slightness,” (November 2002) by Christina Nehring.

Finalist, Profile Writing, for “The Boy Who Loved Transit,” (May 2002) by Jeff Tietz

Best American Essays

“Circus Music” by Edward Hoagland (February 2002).

“Whose War” by John Edgar Wideman (March 2002).

“A Delivery for Fred Astaire” by Frederic Morton (November 2002)· “A Delivery for Fred Astaire” by Frederic Morton (November 2002).

“Wooden Dollar” by Ben Metcalf (December 2002).

* * *

2002

National Magazine Award

Winner, Reviews and Criticism, for “Seize the Day Job” (March 2001), “The Second Coming of Richard Yates” (July 2001), and “Cold Verities” (October 2001), all by Lee Siegel.

Finalist, Essays, for “Welcome to Cancerland” by Barbara Ehrenreich (November 2001).

Finalist, Profile Writing, for “Dr. Daedelus” by Lauren Slater (July 2001).

Finalist, Fiction, for “Curly Red” by Joyce Carol Oates (April 2001); “Revenge” by Steven Millhauser (July 2001); and “Love and Hydrogen” by Jim Shepard (December 2001).

Amnesty International Media Award

Winner, Global Award for Human Rights Journalism, for “A Gaza Diary” by Chris Hedges (October 2001)

Media Eclipse Award

Winner, Feature/Enterprise writing, for “Horseman, Pass By” by John Jeremiah Sullivan (October, 2002).

Thomas Paine Journalism Award

Honoring journalists who defend freedom of expression in the spirit of Thomas Paine

Winner, Lewis Lapham, for “Notebook”

* * *

2001

National Magazine Award

Finalist, General Excellence (circulation 100,000 to 400,000), for January, June, and November issues.

Finalist, Essays, for “In the Land of the Rococo Marxists” by Tom Wolfe (June 2000).

Finalist, Reviews and Criticism, for “Stupor Mundi” by Lewis H. Lapham (April 2000), “A Life in the Maze” by Guy Davenport (June 2000), and “The Glory of J.F. Powers” by Donna Tartt (July 2000).

* * *

2000

National Magazine Award

Finalist, Reporting, for “The Sweet Hereafter” by Paul Roberts (November 1999).

Finalist, Public Interest, for “Busted Flush” by David Plotz (August 1999).

Finalist, Fiction, for “The Bridegroom” by Ha Jin (July 1999), “Watch the Animals” by Alice Elliott Dark (September 1999), and “Green World” by Greg Hrbek (December 1999).

Best American Essays

“A Son in Shadow” by Fred d'Aguiar (March 1999), “Listening for Silence” by Mark Slouka (April 1999), “In Defense of the Book” by William H. Gass (November 1999).

O. HENRY AWARDS

“The Fool's Proxy” by J. Robert Lennon (October 1999), “Watch the Animals” by Alice Elliott Dark (September 1999).

Sidney Hillman Award

Winner, “Nickel-and-Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich (January 1999), for journalism and writing that investigates issues related to justice and progressive public policy.

National Press Club Sandy Hume Award

Winner, “Busted Flush” by David Plotz (August 1999), for excellence in political journalism.

JOHN B. OAKES AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM

Finalist, “Running Dry” by Jacques Leslie (July 2000).

G.L.A.A.D. MEDIA AWARD

Winner, “A Boy's Life” by Joanne Wypijewski (September 1999).

* * *

1999

National Magazine Award

Winner, Fiction, for “The Whore's Child” by Richard Russo (February 1998), “Lucky Ducks” by Lorrie Moore (March 1998), and “Son of the Wolfman” by Michael Chabon (December 1998).

Finalist, Fiction, for “A Tortoise for the Queen of Tonga” by Julia Whitty (June 1998), “The Woods at the Back of Our Houses” by Dale Ray Phillips (July 1998), and “The Piano Tuner” by Tim Gautreaux (September 1998).

Best American Essays

“Torch Song” by Charles Bowden (August 1998), “Still Life” by Mary Gordon (December 1998), “Planet of Weeds” by David Quammen (October 1998), “Hitler's Couch” by Mark Slouka (April 1998).

Best American Essays

“A Son in Shadow” by Fred d'Aguiar (March 1999), “Listening for Silence” by Mark Slouka (April 1999), “In Defense of the Book” by William H. Gass (November 1999).

Best American Short Stories

“The Piano Tuner” by Tim Gautreaux (September 1998).

Best American Sports Writing

“Hockey Nights” by Guy Lawson (January 1998), “Coming Home” by John Hildebrand (October 1998).

THE O. HENRY AWARDS

“The Depressed Person” by David Foster Wallace (January 1998), “Son of the Wolfman” by Michael Chabon (December 1998), “A Tortoise for the Queen of Tonga” by Julia Whitty (June 1998).

The Art of the Essay

“Sisyphus in the Basement” by George Packer (July 1998).

The Washington Monthly Journalism Award

“Busted Flush” by David Plotz (August 1999).

* * *

1998

National Magazine Award

Winner, Feature Writing, for “Driving Mr. Albert” by Michael Paterniti (October 1997).

Finalist, General Excellence (circulation 100,000-400,000), for April, June, and September issues.

Finalist (two nominations), Reporting, for “An Army of One's Own” by Elizabeth Rubin (February 1997) and for “Judgment Day” by Alan Zarembo (April 1997).

Finalist, Fiction, for “Bishop's House” by Mary Gordon (January 1997), “The Knife Thrower” by Steven Millhauser (March 1997), and “Feather and Bone” by Mark Slouka (October 1997).

Livingston Award For Young Journalists

Winner, “Judgment Day” by Alan Zarembo (April 1997).

Best American Short Stories

“Penance” by Matthew Crain (May 1997).

Best American Spiritual Writing

“Cold Comfort” by Gretel Ehrlich (March 1997) and “Lost Atlantis: Nude Scientists, Giant Sharks, Bad Vibes, and Me” by Ptolemy Tompkins (January 1997).

THE O. HENRY AWARDS

Second Prize Winner, “The Knife Thrower” by Steven Millhauser (March 1997) and “Gare Du Nord” by Suketu Mehta (August 1997).

* * *

1997

National Magazine Award

Finalist, General Excellence (circulation 100,000-400,000), for January, May, and December issues.

Best American Essays

“Legends of the Fall” by Louis de Berniéres (January 1996) and “Rat Patrol: A Saga” by Frank Gannon (September 1996).

Anchor Essay Annual

“Missing Children” by Bob Shacochis (October 1996) and “True West” by Richard Rodriguez (September 1996).

Sidney Hillman FoundatiOn Awards

Winner, “While You Were Sleeping” by Charles Bowden (December 1996), for journalism and writing that investigates issues related to justice and progressive public policy.

* * *

1996

National Magazine Award

Winner, Fiction, for “The Woodcarver's Tale” by Mark Slouka (MISSING), “Bounty” by George Saunders (April 1995), and “The Lost Girl” by Tova Reich (August 1995).

Finalist, Fiction, for “Sleep” by Stephen Dixon (January 1995), “The Chromium Hook” by Ron Carlson (October 1995), and “Deputy Sid's Gift” by Tim Gautreaux (November 1995).

Finalist, General Excellence, for July, August, and October issues.

Finalist, Public Interest, for “The Heat Is On” by Ross Gelbspan (December 1995).

Best American Essays

“Brightness Visible” by Edward Hoagland (January 1995).

Best American Short Stories

“Sleep” by Stephen Dixon (January 1995).

* * *

1995

National Magazine Award

Winner, Essays & Criticism, for three Notebook columns by editor Lewis H. Lapham: “Robber Barons Redux,” “Morte de Nixon,” and “Terms of Endearment” (January, July, and September 1994).

Best American Essays

“Eros at Sea” by Joel Agee (January 1994) and “The Art of Self” by William Gass (May 1994).

Best American Short Stories

“Honored Guest” by Joy Williams (June 1994).

THE O. HENRY AWARDS

“Trick or Treat” by Padgett Powell (November 1993).

* * *

1994

National Magazine Award

Winner, Essays & Criticism, for “Mirrorings” by Lucy Grealy (February 1993), “A Woman's Work” by Louise Erdrich (May 1993), and “The Crash of Blue-Sky California” by David Beers (July 1993).

Winner, Fiction, for “The Practical Heart” by Allan Gurganus (July 1993), “The Prophet From Jupiter” by Tony Earley (January 1993), and “The 400-Pound CEO” by George Saunders (February 1993).

Winner, Feature Writing, for “The Last Shot” by Darcy Frey (April 1993).

Livingston Award For Young Journalists

Winner, Best National Reporting for “The Last Shot” by Darcy Frey (April 1993).

Best American Essays

“Out of One's Tree” by Stanley Elkin (January 1993), “The Last Shot” by Darcy Frey (April 1993), “Mirrorings” by Lucy Grealey (February 1993), “Can an Ape Tell a Joke?” by Vicki Hearne (November 1993).

Best American Short Stories

“The Prophet from Jupiter” by Tony Earley (January 1993).

* * *

1993

National Magazine Award

Finalist, General Excellence (circulation 100,000-400,000), for November, September, and July 1992 issues.

Finalist, Fiction, for “Line of Credit” by Louise Erdrich (April 1992), “I Want to Live!” by Thom Jones (August 1992), and “Pafko at the Wall” by Don DeLillo (October 1992).

Best American Essays

“Their Malcolm, My Problem” by Gerald Early (December 1992), “PC on the Grill” by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison (June 1992), “How to Get Out of a Locked Trunk” by Phillip Weiss (June 1992), “The New Sovereignty” by Shelby Steele (July 1992).

Best American Short Stories

“I Want to Live!” by Thom Jones (August 1992), “Charlotte” by Tony Earley (March 1992).

Olive Branch Award

For outstanding magazine coverage of international security issues in “Bushism Found” by Walter Russell Mead (September 1992) and “The Last Cold War Monument” by Alan Burdick (August 1992).

Project Censored

Finalist, Top 10 “Censored” News Stories of 1993 for publishing a sealed grand jury report on the cover up of environmental crimes at Rocky Flats nuclear-weapons plant.

* * *

1992

National Magazine Award

Finalist, Essays & Criticism, for two Notebook columns: “Justice Horatio Alger” and “More light” by Lewis H. Lapham (September and December 1991).

Best American Short Stories

“Is Laughter Contagious” by Joyce Carol Oates (September 1991).

Olive Branch Awards

Winner, “Why We are Stuck in the Sand: Realpolitik in the Gulf” by Christopher Hitchens (January 1991), for outstanding coverage of international security.

* * *

1991

National Magazine Award

Finalist, Reporting, for “Chronicle of a Debacle Foretold” by L.J. Davis (September 1990).

Finalist, Fiction, for “Rehearsing 'The Firebird'” by Jane Hamilton (June 1990), “Nativity, Caucasian” by Allan Gurganus (November 1990), and “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich (March 1990).

Best American Essays

“Late Victorians” by Richard Rodriguez (November 1990) and “Questions of Conquest” by Mario Vargas Llosa (December 1990).