Dartmouth Native American Studies Professor Colin Calloway recently joined an elite group of writers when his latest book entered consideration for 1996 Pulitzer Prize in the historical category of letters.
The book titled "The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crises and Diversity in Native American Communities," was published last year by the Cambridge University Press.
One hundred to 200 books are entered into consideration in each Pulitzer category annually, usually by their publishers.
The 200 entrants will be reduced to four nominees by the Pulitzer Prize Board. Of those four, one will be chosen to receive the prize.
Nominees and winners will be announced on April 9, according to the Pulitzer Prize office at Columbia University in New York City.
Calloway said his book is about the impact of the American Revolution on various Native American communities. His book is unique because he takes a "community-by-community approach," he said.
"The American Revolution and the Indians don't normally come together in one package," he said.
He said his book highlights the different implications of the Revolution for Native Americans and whites.
Calloway's book was the first book of Native American history to be reviewed in the New York Review of Books. The review by historian Bernard Bailyn received much attention from historians and brought publicity to Calloway himself.
In his review, Bailyn wrote, "No one before Calloway has attempted to cover the whole subject, to explain in detail precisely what the Revolution meant to the native peoples."
Cambridge University Press, Calloway's publisher, did not originally enter him in the contest. It was not until they received a call from the Pulitzer Committee asking why Calloway's book had not been entered that the company sent in his name, Calloway said.
