National Book Critics Circle Award

The National Book Critics Circle Awards are chosen by working critics, which sets them apart from most major American book prizes. The circle was founded in April 1974 at the Algonquin Hotel in New York, and its first awards followed the next year. It now counts several hundred members, including critics, editors, authors and others who work in book culture.

Awards are given each year in six categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Poetry and Criticism. Members nominate books, the circle's critics select finalists and winners, and the results are announced in March for books from the previous publishing year. The circle also presents the John Leonard Prize for a first book and the Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize, both voted on by members, as well as the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing and the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award.

Books published in English during the previous calendar year in any of the six categories, including works translated into English.