Los Angeles Times Book Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 33 (2012) Winner
Katherine Boo
キャサリン・ブー
Kyasarin Bu
Aliases:
Kate Boo
Pen Names:
Kate Boo（Informal short name used in some bylines and references）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1964-08-12
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Grew up in and near Washington, D.C. → Extended stays in Mumbai, India for reporting
Career
- Occupations
- Investigative journalist, Nonfiction author, Magazine contributor
- Active Years
- 1990-
- Influenced By
- Influenced
- Nominations
- Samuel Johnson Prize (shortlist, 2012)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of William and Mary | — | — | — | 2年間在籍（学部移籍） | United States |
| Barnard College (Columbia University) | — | — | BA (summa cum laude) | 在籍期間不明（編入後卒業） | United States |
College of William and Mary
Period:
2年間在籍（学部移籍）
Country:
United States
Attended for two years before transferring to Barnard College (Columbia University)
Barnard College (Columbia University)
Degree:
BA (summa cum laude)
Period:
在籍期間不明（編入後卒業）
Year of Graduation:
1986
Country:
United States
Graduated summa cum laude
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Pulitzer Prize for Public Service | Series for The Washington Post (1999) on group homes for the intellectually disabled | 公共サービス | The Pulitzer Prizes | winner |
| 2002 | MacArthur Fellowship | — | — | John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation | winner |
| 2002 | The Hillman Prize | Reporting including "After Welfare" | — | The Hillman Foundation | winner |
| 2004 | National Magazine Award (Feature Writing) | The New Yorker article "The Marriage Cure" | Feature Writing | National Magazine Awards | winner |
| 2012 | National Book Award (Nonfiction) | Behind the Beautiful Forevers | Nonfiction | National Book Foundation | winner |
| 2012 | Samuel Johnson Prize (shortlist) | Behind the Beautiful Forevers | — | Samuel Johnson Prize | shortlist |
| 2013 | PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award | Behind the Beautiful Forevers | — | PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award (PEN) | winner |
| 2012 | Columbia Journalism Award | — | — | Columbia University (award) | winner |
Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
2000
Work:
Series for The Washington Post (1999) on group homes for the intellectually disabled
Category:
公共サービス
Organization:
The Pulitzer Prizes
Result:
winner
MacArthur Fellowship
2002
Organization:
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Result:
winner
The Hillman Prize
2002
Work:
Reporting including "After Welfare"
Organization:
The Hillman Foundation
Result:
winner
National Magazine Award (Feature Writing)
2004
Work:
The New Yorker article "The Marriage Cure"
Category:
Feature Writing
Organization:
National Magazine Awards
Result:
winner
National Book Award (Nonfiction)
2012
Work:
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Category:
Nonfiction
Organization:
National Book Foundation
Result:
winner
Samuel Johnson Prize (shortlist)
2012
Work:
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Organization:
Samuel Johnson Prize
Result:
shortlist
PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award
2013
Work:
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Organization:
PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award (PEN)
Result:
winner
Columbia Journalism Award
2012
Organization:
Columbia University (award)
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
2012 Nonfiction (narrative reportage) 352 pagesA long-form reportage based on extended reporting in Annawadi, a Mumbai slum, that traces the lives of residents to illuminate poverty, corruption, and resilience amid rapid urban change.
PovertyUrbanizationInequalitySocial exclusionResilience
Translations
- Original in English
- Japanese translation (published; exact edition not specified here)
Bibliography
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers (2012)
- (Numerous articles and magazine contributions)
Translations of Works
- Japanese translation of Behind the Beautiful Forevers (edition details omitted)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Meticulous, field-based narrative reportageCharacter-driven narrative nonfiction
- Recurring Motifs
- Everyday povertyTension between institutions and individualsInterplay of hope and despair
Legacy
Renowned for meticulous, empathetic reporting that has garnered international acclaim and influenced public discussion and policy in some instances. Behind the Beautiful Forevers is widely regarded as a landmark work of contemporary narrative nonfiction and has won multiple major awards.
Quotes
-
Her reporting exposed neglect and abuse in city institutions and prompted officials to acknowledge conditions and begin reforms.
Source: Pulitzer Prize judges' citation (2000)
Trivia
- Family surname originally Bö of Swedish origin, Americanized to Boo.
- Married to Sunil Khilnani, a scholar of politics and history in India.