Julie Schumacher Wins Thurber Prize for American Humor

A comic saga of a creative writing professor and his letters of recommendation has won the Thurber Prize for American Humor.

Author Julie Schumacher received $5,000 and a crystal plaque for winning with "Dear Committee Members." She was honored Monday at the New York comedy club Carolines on Broadway.

The two runners-up were Roz Chast for her memoir "Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?" and Annabelle Gurwitch for "I See You Made an Effort: Compliments, Indignities, and Survival Stories from the Edge."

No woman had won the Thurber award until this year. The award was established in 1996 and is named for the late humorist and cartoonist James Thurber.

Previous winners include Jon Stewart, David Sedaris and Calvin Trillin.