Daniel Walker Howe, a professor emeritus at University of California, Los Angeles, has won the third annual New-York Historical Society American History Book Prize for “What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848” (Oxford University). The award, which carries a $50,000 prize, will be presented on April 4, when Mr. Howe will also be named American historian laureate.... Francine Prose, having finished her one-year term, has re-upped for another as president of the American center of PEN, the international writers organization, The Associated Press reported. Ms. Prose runs unopposed in a vote to be held this week.