The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
Begin here for Wilkerson's landmark narrative history of the Great Migration.
Author guide
Isabel Wilkerson Books in Order
Isabel Wilkerson is an American journalist and author. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1994 and the National Humanities Medal in 2016. Her books The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste combine historical research, reporting, and narrative storytelling to examine the Great Migration and the enduring caste structure of American society.
narrative nonfictionhistoryjournalismsocial criticism
Catalog record updated .
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Read this next for her analysis of racial hierarchy and caste in the United States.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (2)
- The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
nonfiction · 2010
In this beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson presents a definitive and dramatic account of one of the great untold stories of American history: the Great Migration of six million Black citizens…
- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
nonfiction · 2020
“As we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance. The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is…
Frequently asked questions about Isabel Wilkerson
Who is Isabel Wilkerson, and what is she known for?
Isabel Wilkerson is an American journalist and author known for narrative nonfiction that examines race, migration, and social hierarchy in the United States.
How did Isabel Wilkerson’s family background influence her work?
Wilkerson is the daughter of parents who migrated from Georgia and Southern Virginia to Washington, D.C. Their experience as part of the Great Migration helped shape her interest in documenting its history and human consequences.
Sources: arts.gov (opens in a new tab)isabelwilkerson.com (opens in a new tab)
What was Isabel Wilkerson’s journalism career?
After graduating from Howard University, Wilkerson joined The New York Times and became its Chicago bureau chief before age 30. She won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for reporting on Midwestern floods and a Chicago boy’s life.
Sources: neh.gov (opens in a new tab)pulitzer.org (opens in a new tab)
Which major awards has Isabel Wilkerson received?
Wilkerson won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing and received the 2015 National Humanities Medal, which President Barack Obama presented in 2016.
Sources: pulitzer.org (opens in a new tab)neh.gov (opens in a new tab)
What is Isabel Wilkerson’s legacy?
Wilkerson is regarded as a leading figure in narrative nonfiction whose work brings marginalized experiences into broader historical understanding. Her writing has helped connect personal stories with major questions about American history, inequality, and belonging.
Sources: isabelwilkerson.com (opens in a new tab)neh.gov (opens in a new tab)