Alexandra Fuller, a Teton Valley resident and acclaimed author, has been named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in the memoir category for her deeply personal work, Fi: A Memoir of My Son. The recognition marks a significant milestone in Fuller’s literary career, which spans over two decades of memoir writing.
On Monday, the Pulitzer Prize finalists were announced, with Fi praised by officials as an “elegiac meditation on motherhood and grief.” The book, which explores the devastation of losing a child, has been lauded for its poignant exploration of pain, rage, and eventual acceptance. Pulitzer jurors described it as a narrative that resonates with “beauty and hard-won acceptance” despite its heartbreaking subject matter.
At the time of the announcement, Fuller was in her remote Tetonia yurt, focusing on a new project, with her phone turned off and the outside world momentarily forgotten.
Fuller first gained widespread recognition in 2001 with Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood, which earned her critical acclaim and international success. Since then, she has authored seven other works, primarily in the genres of memoir and biography.
The loss of Fuller’s son, Fuller Ross, who tragically passed away in his sleep at the age of 21 in July 2018, forms the core of Fi. Born and raised in Jackson Hole, Fuller Ross was a beloved figure in the local lacrosse community, both in high school and at the University of Pennsylvania. His death has profoundly affected Fuller, reshaping her understanding of grief and the societal inadequacies in handling the loss of a child.
While Fi was initially published in hardcover in 2024 and released as an audiobook narrated by Fuller herself, it was only recently released in paperback. Reflecting on the emotional impact of the book, Fuller shared, “I’m so glad this one got the recognition. Of all my books, this one feels the least like me—it’s the book with the most him in it.”
In her conversation, Fuller opened up about the intense grief she experienced following her son’s death. “We do not know how to deal with the death of a child,” she said. “People leave casseroles at your door and then disappear. It felt like my skin was on fire for years.”
The writing of Fi was a lengthy process. Fuller confessed that she was not ready to begin the book until 18 months after Fuller Ross’s passing, a period when she felt “scarred, but not bleeding.” The memoir took years to complete, reflecting the raw and transformative journey of grief and healing.
Fuller’s journey as a writer continues to resonate with readers, and the recognition by the Pulitzer Prize committee only solidifies her place in the literary world. As she continues to work on new projects, her experience with loss remains a central part of her creative work, offering profound insights into the human condition.
