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The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) is an American nonprofit organization (
"Thirty-five Years of Quality Writing and Criticism"
Retrieved 2012-02-02. It was formally chartered October 1974 as a New York state non-profit corporation and the Advisory Board voted in November to establish annual literary awards.''The National Book Critics Circle Journal'' 1:1, March 1, 1975
, NBCC. Retrieved 2012-02-02. In the first newsletter three months later, President Ivan Sandrof proclaimed the primary purpose "to improve and maintain the standards of
, NBCC. Retrieved 2012-02-02. Only active review editors and reviewers may be voting members; they elect the 24 Directors who formally make nominations and alone make final selections each year."Membership"
(no date), NBCC. Retrieved 2012-02-02. A fifth award category for books (Autobiography/Biography) was added for 1983 and divided in two for 2005. Since 2005 there are eight awards. Six National Book Critics Circle Awards recognize "best books" published in the United States during the preceding year in six categories: fiction, nonfiction, autobiography, biography, criticism, and poetry."Frequently Asked Questions"
(no date), NBCC. Retrieved 2012-02-02. Annually "the most accomplished reviewer" among its members is recognized by the
How National Book Critics Circle Chooses Its Awards
by NBCC President Jane Ciabattari, '' The Daily Beast'', January 22, 2011. Literary criticism Critics associations Professional associations based in the United States Organizations established in 1974 501(c)(3) organizations 1974 establishments in New York City Algonquin Round Table
The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) is an American nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
) with more than 700 members. It is the professional association of American book review editors and critics, known primarily for the National Book Critics Circle Awards, a set of literary awards
A literary award or literary prize is an award presented in recognition of a particularly lauded literary piece or body of work. It is normally presented to an author.
Organizations
Most literary awards come with a corresponding award ceremony. Ma ...
presented every March.
The organization was founded April 1974 in New York City by " John Leonard, Nona Balakian, and Ivan Sandrof intending to extend the Algonquin round table to a national conversation".
National Book Critics Circle (NBCC): About"Thirty-five Years of Quality Writing and Criticism"
Retrieved 2012-02-02. It was formally chartered October 1974 as a New York state non-profit corporation and the Advisory Board voted in November to establish annual literary awards.''The National Book Critics Circle Journal'' 1:1, March 1, 1975
, NBCC. Retrieved 2012-02-02. In the first newsletter three months later, President Ivan Sandrof proclaimed the primary purpose "to improve and maintain the standards of
literary criticism
Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. Th ...
in an era of diminishing and deteriorating values". At that time there were 140 members, with outreach to freelance critics planned for that year.
NBCC first presented its Awards in January 1976 to books published during 1975 in four categories.''The National Book Critics Circle Journal'' 2:1, Spring 1976, NBCC. Retrieved 2012-02-02. Only active review editors and reviewers may be voting members; they elect the 24 Directors who formally make nominations and alone make final selections each year."Membership"
(no date), NBCC. Retrieved 2012-02-02. A fifth award category for books (Autobiography/Biography) was added for 1983 and divided in two for 2005. Since 2005 there are eight awards. Six National Book Critics Circle Awards recognize "best books" published in the United States during the preceding year in six categories: fiction, nonfiction, autobiography, biography, criticism, and poetry."Frequently Asked Questions"
(no date), NBCC. Retrieved 2012-02-02. Annually "the most accomplished reviewer" among its members is recognized by the
Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing
The Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, established in 1991, is an annual literary award presented by the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) to honor Nona Balakian
Nona Balakian ( Armenian: Նոնա Պալագեան, Constantinop ...
(from 1991).
The NBCC also recognizes no more than one person or organization for "exceptional contributions to books" with the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award (from 1981 under more than one name).All eight awards are officially dated in the preceding year.
As a professional association, NBCC also works to improve the quality of reviews and provides services to its members.
Controversies
In 2020, more than half of the 24 board members resigned over conflicting views on how to address perceived racial disparities both on the board, and within the industry they represent. This demonstrative revolt has also been attributed to breaches in confidentiality stemming from leaked emails, and the dismissive, antagonistic communication style of a long-standing board member, Carlin Romano, whom half the board members describe as a bully. Overall, the mass resignations amount to a controversy seen as part of an industry-wide reckoning concerning the lack of diversity in publishing and literary awards.First Board of Directors (1975)
President Ivan Sandrof, ''The Worcester Telegram-Gazette'' Vice President Digby Diehl, ''Los Angeles Times'' Secretary Nona Balakian, ''The New York Times Book Review'' Treasurer Susan Heath, ''The Saturday Review'' Barbara A. Bannon, ''Publishers Weekly'' John Barkham, ''John Barkham Reviews'' Alvin Beam, ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'' Alice Cromie, Freelance Critic Martha Duffy, ''Time'' Eliot Fremont-Smith, ''The Village Voice'' Elizabeth Hardwick, ''New York Review of Books'' Herbert A. Kenny, ''Freelance Critic'' John Leonard, ''The New York Times Book Review'' Thorpe Menn, ''The Kansas City Star'' Stanton Peckham, ''Denver Post'' Peter S. Prescott, Newsweek Larry Swindell, ''Philadelphia Inquirer'' Jonathan Yardley, ''Miami Herald''Past Presidents
1974-1976: Ivan Sandrof, ''Worcester Telegram-Gazette'' 1976-1982: Eliot Fremont-Smith, ''Village Voice'' 1982-1984: Richard Locke, ''Vanity Fair'' 1984-1986: Brigitte Weeks, ''The Washington Post Book World'' 1986-1990: Nina King, ''Newsday'' 1990-1992:Jack Miles
John R. "Jack" Miles (born July 30, 1942) is an American author. He is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the MacArthur Fellowship. His writings on religion, politics, and culture have appeared in numerous national pub ...
, ''Los Angeles Times''
1992-1994 Herbert Liebowitz, ''Parnassus''
1994-1996 Carlin Romano
Carlin Romano is an American writer and educator. Romano writes for ''The Chronicle of Higher Education.''
Career
Romano was a writer for ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. He teaches at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Commun ...
, ''Philadelphia Inquirer''
1996-1998 Art Winslow, ''The Nation''
1998-2000 Barbara Hoffert, ''Library Journal''
2001-2004 Elizabeth Taylor, ''Chicago Tribune''
2004-2006 Rebecca T. Miller, ''Library Journal''
2006-2008 John Freeman, Freelance Critic
2008-2011 Jane Ciabattari, Freelance Critic
2011-2013 Eric Banks, ''Bookforum''
2013-2015 Laurie Muchnick, ''Bloomberg News''
2015-2017 Tom Beer, ''Newsday''
2017-2019 Kate Tuttle, ''Boston Globe''
2019-2020 Laurie Hertzel, ''Minneapolis Star Tribune''
2020-2020: Jane Ciabattari, Freelance Critic (acting)
2020–2022: David Varno, ''Publishers Weekly''
2022-Present: Megan Labrise
References
External links
* {{official, http://bookcritics.org/How National Book Critics Circle Chooses Its Awards
by NBCC President Jane Ciabattari, '' The Daily Beast'', January 22, 2011. Literary criticism Critics associations Professional associations based in the United States Organizations established in 1974 501(c)(3) organizations 1974 establishments in New York City Algonquin Round Table