ABOUT THE PRIZE

The Harvardwood Literary Prize for Biography celebrates the art of the true story — honouring the writers who illuminate extraordinary lives and shape our understanding of the world we live in.Founded by Dr. Patricia Danaher, the Prize offers a $100,000 award to the winner, selected by a distinguished jury of Harvard alumni who have made significant contributions to the literary and cultural world.

The Prize draws submissions globally, compiled in collaboration with libraries, independent booksellers, book clubs, and publishers worldwide. All books published within the calendar year are eligible. A longlist reflecting the most celebrated and widely read biographies of the year is announced in the spring, followed by a shortlist of finalists in late summer.

The winner is announced each November at a gala event in Beverly Hills — a landmark evening bringing together judges, shortlisted authors, publishers, and the literary community.

Beyond the $100,000 prize, the Harvardwood Literary Prize delivers significant recognition for every shortlisted author — generating publicity, increased readership, and commercial momentum at a critical moment in the publishing calendar, just ahead of the holiday season.

The Harvardwood Literary Prize exists to champion biography as a literary form, to connect remarkable authors with the readers they deserve, and to celebrate the enduring power of a life fully told.