National Book Critics Circle Award Fiction Winners and Finalists, 1975-2014

In April 1974, three book critics sitting around a table at the Algonquin Hotel in NYC declared themselves a "circle," which since then has expanded to over 600 literary lights. Every year, they present awards for the best books published in the English language, whether the author is English, American, Australian, etc etc. Having a broader scope than the Pulitzer, National Book Award or Man Booker committees allows them to highlight lesser-known works, but a perusal of their award recipients proves once again than it never hurts to be named "Updike" or "Roth." (And that it always hurts to be Joyce Carol Oates.)