Bernstein Award Finalist Series: Dan Ephron

In celebration of the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, The New York Public Library invites finalist Dan Ephron for a conversation with Jessica Strand. Dan Ephron is nominated for his book Killing a King: The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the Remaking of Israel.

The assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin remains the single most consequential event in Israel’s recent history, one that fundamentally altered the trajectory for both Israel and the Palestinians and continues to have a significant impact on the current situation in the Middle East. Killing a King by longtime Middle East reporter Dan Ephron provides this important perspective to today’s world by relating the parallel stories of Rabin and his stalker Yigal Amir over the two years leading up to the assassination, as one of them planned political deals he hoped would lead to peace, and the other plotted murder. 

Dan Ephron was a Newsweek writer for nearly 15 years, serving as National Security correspondent, Deputy Washington Bureau Chief and Jerusalem Bureau Chief. He has followed the Middle East through much of his career and covered many of the region's major events. His stories have also appeared in the Boston Globe, Esquire, Politico Magazine, The Village Voice and The New Republic. Killing a King is Ephron's first book. The New York Times listed it as one of the 100 notable books of 2015, describing it as "an electrifying political narrative twinned with an old-fashioned crime story -- of the sort that ought to be taught in journalism schools for its restraint, pacing and expert creation of suspense." Ephron grew up in San Francisco. He lives in New York City with his wife, Nancy Updike, a longtime producer for the public radio show, This American Life.

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Since 1988 the Bernstein Award, which includes a $15,000 cash prize, has been given to journalists whose books have brought clarity and public attention to important issues, events, or policies. Previous winners of the award include Dan Fagin, Katherine Boo, Ellen E. Schultz, Shane Harris, David Finkel and Jane Mayer.  Anand Giridharadas won last year for his acclaimed book, The True American; Murder and Mercy in Texas. View press release,  video, and photo gallery of the event.

The Bernstein Award was established through a gift from Joseph Frank Bernstein, in honor of journalist Helen Bernstein (now Helen Bernstein Fealy).  The family has also endowed the position of Helen Bernstein Librarian for Periodicals and Journals, who curates The New York Public Library’s internationally-renowned Periodicals collection - one of the largest collections of past and present newspapers, magazines, and more in the world. The position is currently held by librarian Karen Gisonny.

More information about the Bernstein Awards and programs here!