The 2023 National Book Critics Circle Awards were presented on March 23 at the organization’s first in-person ceremony since the pandemic began, once again held at the New School in New York City. The National Book Critics Circle was founded in 1974 and comprises of more than 600 working critics and book-review editors throughout the country.
Eight genre awards were announced including the inaugural Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize which was shared by Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov and translator Boris Dralyuk for the novel Grey Bees. See all award winners on BookBrowse.
The second inaugural prize of the night went to Barbara Hoffert for the NBCC Service Award. Hoffert served for many years on the NBCC board and held numerous roles including president and awards chair. The Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing.
San Francisco bookstore City Lights won the Toni Morrison Achievement Award; Joy Harjo won the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, and Jennifer Wilson won the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing.