The original goal of the National Book Awards was to enhance America’s awareness of exceptional books written by fellow Americans. For six decades, the National Book Awards, which are organized by the National Book Foundation, has acclaimed the cream of the literary crop and now it's celebrating its 60th anniversary with a campaign to select the best book from its long list of fiction winners.
The National Book Awards’ quest has now reached the shortlist stage after 140 writers selected six books that “represent the best of the National Book Awards for Fiction.” It’s an interesting list packed with literary heavyweights and shows the power of collected stories.
Anyone can now vote for the overall winner. Visit http://www.nationalbook.org/nbafictionpoll.html
The National Book Awards began in 1950 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City when The Man With the Golden Arm by Nelson Algren was named America’s premier piece of fiction from the previous year. Today, it’s the most important event on the American literary calendar and continues to recognize the best in American writing. Last year’s winner was Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen and now it sits alongside books like From Here To Eternity, Invisible Man, Herzog, Gravity’s Rainbow, Rabbit is Rich, All The Pretty Horses, Cold Mountain and Tree of Smoke.
The result will be revealed on 18 November at the National Book Awards dinner.
AbeBooks.com is an official partner for the Best of the National Book Awards.
(Note: Dates show year of the award.)
1966

The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
Katherine Anne Porter
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1972

The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor
Flannery O'Connor
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1974

A Crown of Feathers and Other Stories
Isaac Bashevis Singer
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Take a look at our other award winners lists:
- 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
- Nebula and Hugo Award Winners
- Top 10 Forgotten Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novels
- 2009 BC Book Prizes





























































































