See also: 1977 in literature, other events of 1978, 1979 in literature, list of years in literature.
Events
New books
Births
Deaths
Awards
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Booker Prize: Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea
- See 1978 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
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Nebula Award: Vonda McIntyre, Dreamsnake
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Newbery Medal for children's literature: Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia
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Nobel Prize for Literature: Isaac Bashevis Singer
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Prix Goncourt: Patrick Modiano , Rue des boutiques obscures
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Prix Médicis French: Georges Perec, La vie mode d'emploi
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Prix Médicis International: Alexandre Zinoviev , L’Avenir radieux - Russia
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Pulitzer Prize for Drama: Donald L. Coburn , The Gin Game
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Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: James Alan McPherson, Elbow Room
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Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: Howard Nemerov, Collected Poems
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Viareggio Prize: Antonio Altomonte , Dopo il presidente