Princess Joy L. Perry Will Receive Stowe Prize
The author will be honored in Hartford on September 23 for her novel This Here is Love.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in African-American
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The Stowe Center will award Princess Joy L. Perry the Stowe Prize for Literary Activism on September 23. Her 2025 novel, This Here is Love, was recognized for its exploration of racial history in the United States.
Why it matters
The award recognizes Perry for investigating the origins of racial bitterness and anger in the United States through her historical fiction. The novel serves as a scholarly effort to document the lives of enslaved people during the 17th century.
Perry spent 10 years writing her novel, which centers on the lives of 3 enslaved characters. The work features period-appropriate dialogue based on researched etymology from the 17th century.
The players
Princess Joy L. Perry
She is an educator based in Norfolk, Virginia, and the author of the novel This Here is Love.
Stowe Center
This Hartford-based organization is dedicated to the legacy of Harriet Beecher Stowe and hosts the annual prize for literary activism.
W.W. Norton & Co.
This is the publishing house that released Princess Joy L. Perry's award-winning novel in 2025.
The details
Princess Joy L. Perry, an educator based in Norfolk, Virginia, wrote This Here is Love to examine historical racial tensions. The publisher, W.W. Norton & Co., submitted the novel for consideration to the Stowe Center, which oversees the annual award for literary activism.
Timeline
The award ceremony is scheduled for September 23.
A reception begins at the Mark Twain House & Museum at 5:30 p.m. on September 23.
A Social Justice Fair occurs at the Immanuel Congregational Church at 6:00 p.m. on September 23.
The award ceremony and speeches begin at 7:00 p.m. on September 23.
Roadmap
The selection of Perry follows the pattern of literary recognition established by the Stowe Prize for Literary Activism, which honors authors using their voice to advance social justice. This award continues the broader trend of highlighting historical fiction that examines the American racial experience.
Hartford residents are invited to attend the Social Justice Fair and award ceremony at the Immanuel Congregational Church on September 23. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in public discussions following the reception.
The takeaway
Perry’s decade-long research process demonstrates the intensive labor required to craft period-accurate historical fiction. Aspiring writers can look to her success as a model for using historical research to address modern social concerns.
Further reading
Find more coverage of cultural voices and achievements in the African-American section.
More information
For event details and attendance, please visit the Stowe Center event registration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hartfort Courant.
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