Since 1950 the National Book Award has been awarded to the best book published in the America by a United States citizen. This award has made adjustments over the years but has finally settled into its current organization which also rewards authors in non-fiction, poetry and young people's literature.
The literary prize winner receives a monetary prize of $10,000 US plus a bronze sculpture. The monetary prize of this award isn't extravagant by any means but what makes this award special is that it is "given to writers by writers". The five judges in each category are all previously published writers who have been nominated by the previous year's writers and judges.
The judges have to pour over 200+ books submitted by American publishers. In October, they publicly announce five finalists who are given a $1000 kitty and medallion. Then in November the final deliberation takes place and the judges decide on the final winner who is announced at an invitation only ceremony in New York City.
Previous winners include the likes of William Faulkner (A Fable), Alice Walker (The Color Purple), John Irving (The World According to Garp), Charles Frazier (Cold Mountain) and Conrad Richter (The Waters of Kronos). There is a reading list in the related links below.
Learn more about the National Book Award from the official website.
M. E. Wood lives in Eastern Ontario, Canada. If you are going to find this eclectic reader and writer anywhere it is probably at her computer. For more information visit her official website.
