National Book Foundation

The mission of the National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, is to celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture. The Foundation approaches this work from three programmatic angles: Awards & Honors, recognizing exceptional authors, literature, and literary programs; Education & Access initiatives, helping young and adult readers develop a lifelong passion for books; and Public Programs, bringing acclaimed authors to communities nationwide to engage in conversations about books and the power of literature as a tool for understanding our world, cultivating meaningful discourse around the issues of our age. Information on all of the Foundation’s programs can be found online at nationalbook.org

The National Book Awards, established in 1950, is one of the nation’s most prestigious literary prizes and has a stellar record of identifying and rewarding quality writing. Many previous Winners of the National Book Awards are now firmly established in the canon of American literature, including Robert A. Caro, Ralph Ellison, Louise Erdrich, Denis Johnson, Flannery O’Connor, Adrienne Rich, Maurice Sendak, and Jesmyn Ward.

• Donate to the National Book Foundation.
• Press inquiries: nationalbook@nationalbook.org