National Book Critics Circle Award

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The National Book Critics Circle Award is a set of annual American literary awards by the National Book Critics Circle to promote the finest books and reviews published in English. The awards are given in six categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Memoir/Autobiography, Biography, and Criticism.

History

The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) was founded in April 1974 at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City by a group of prominent book critics. The first awards were presented in January 1976, covering books published in 1975. The NBCC awards are considered among the most prestigious American literary awards.

The awards are presented in the following categories:

• Fiction - Recognizes outstanding works of fiction.
• Nonfiction - Honors exceptional nonfiction works.
• Poetry - Celebrates excellence in poetry.
• Memoir/Autobiography - Awards notable memoirs and autobiographies.
• Biography - Recognizes distinguished biographies.
• Criticism - Honors exceptional works of criticism.

Selection Process

The selection process involves the NBCC's nearly 700 member critics, authors, and editors. The finalists are announced in January, and the winners are announced in March. The awards are unique in that they are chosen by the critics themselves, rather than by publishers or authors.

Notable Winners

Some notable winners of the National Book Critics Circle Award include:

• Toni Morrison for Song of Solomon (Fiction, 1977)
• John Updike for Rabbit Is Rich (Fiction, 1981)
• Joan Didion for The Year of Magical Thinking (Autobiography, 2005)
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for Americanah (Fiction, 2013)

Related Pages

• National Book Critics Circle
• Pulitzer Prize
• National Book Award
• Man Booker Prize
• PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

See Also

• List of literary awards
• American literature
• Book review