For the second week in a row, a Dartmouth alumnus has made campus headlines, only this time it’s because he occupied center stage in the literary community instead of President Hanlon’s office.
Dan Fagin ’85, courtesy of NPR.
On April 15th, Dan Fagin ’85 was awarded the 2014 Pulitzer in the category of “general nonfiction” for his most recent book, Toms River: A Story of Salvation and Science. He is the twelfth graduate to win the coveted prize since its inception in 1917 and is the latest since The Dartmouth Review’s own Joseph Rago received it in 2011 for editorial writing.
As Dartmouth Now reports, Toms River uses the narrative of the New Jersey shore town and its fight with chemical pollutants to craft “a gripping drama” about the human side of environmental degradation. Along the way, the book sheds light on the liberties taken by local businesses, the signs ignored by civil authorities, and the heroic efforts of pioneering scientists and physicians who struggled for justice.
The Pulitzer has been but the most recent and high profile in a series of accolades for Fagin and Toms River. Shortly after the books’ release last year, The New York Times praised it as “a new classic of science reporting” and The Washington Post named it as one of the best books of 2013. NPR has since described it as a “gripping, page-turning environmental thriller” while both readers and critics alike continue to give it rave reviews.
The Dartmouth Review wishes to congratulate Mr. Fagin on his accomplishment and looks forward to reviewing his work in an upcoming issue.
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