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[edit | edit source]

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.

Categories[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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.