Thirty-five Years of Quality Writing and Criticism

The National Book Critics Circle, founded in 1974, is a nonprofit organization consisting of more than 600 active book reviewers who are interested in honoring quality writing and communicating with one another about common concerns.

In recent years, the NBCC has made efforts to become a truly national organization by offering forums in locations nationwide. We look to the web to help us extend the intelligent discussion of books across the nation. We are pleased to welcome you to the NBCC site -- we invite your comments and participation.

The centerpiece of NBCC activities is the annual awards for the best book in six categories: autobiography, biography, criticism, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The 2008 NBCC Award Winners were announced in New York City on March 6, 2009. The 2009 NBCC Award Winners will be announced March 12, 2010, in New York City.
In addition to the best book awards, each year the NBCC salutes the most accomplished reviewer, from within the membership, with the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and recognizes exceptional contributions to books with the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2008 Balakian and Sandrof winners were announced with the NBCC finalists on January 24, 2009, in New York City. The 2009 Balakian and Sandrof winners will be announced with the NBCC finalists on January 23, 2010, in New York City.

Members of the NBCC communicate through Critical Mass, the blog of the National Book Critics Circle board, through the NBCC NewsWire, and at an annual membership meeting every March in New York City. The NBCC membership elects a 24 person all volunteer Board of Directors to nominate and judge books for the awards and guide all day-to-day activities. Members are encouraged to run for the board. The deadline for candidates to run in the 2010 board elections is December 3, 2009.

We're pleased to announce that the NBCC obtained tax-exempt status in 2005, after its first attempt thirty years before. This means anything you care to give us as a gift is now a tax deduction. (See the Donate button on the website.)

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