National Book Award for Fiction
National Book Foundation
One of the most prestigious American literary awards, presented annually by the National Book Foundation to honor an outstanding work of fiction by a U.S. citizen, judged by a panel of writers and literary professionals.
Latest winner · 2025
- The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) · Rabih Alameddine
Next · November 18, 2026
Winner announced Full award calendar
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2026
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Mad EdenShortlisted
Morgan Thomas
- Paradiso 17Shortlisted
Hannah Lillith Assadi
- Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry YouShortlisted
Julián Delgado Lopera
2025
- Won
- Shortlisted
- North Sun, or, the Voyage of the Whaleship EstherShortlisted
Ethan Rutherford
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
2024
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
2023
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Temple FolkShortlisted
Aaliyah Bilal
- The End of Drum-TimeShortlisted
Hanna Pylväinen
- Shortlisted
2022
- Won
- All This Could Be DifferentShortlisted
Sarah Thankam Mathews
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Town of BabylonShortlisted
Alejandro Varela
2021
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The ProphetsShortlisted
Robert Jones Jr.
- Shortlisted
2020
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
2019
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Disappearing EarthShortlisted
Julia Phillips
- Sabrina and CorinaShortlisted
Kali Fajardo-Anstine
- Shortlisted
2018
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Where the Dead Sit TalkingShortlisted
Brandon Hobson
2017
- Won
- Dark at the CrossingShortlisted
Elliot Ackerman
- Shortlisted
- PachinkoShortlisted
Min Jin Lee
- The LeaversShortlisted
Lisa Ko
2016
- Won
- Shortlisted
- News of the WorldShortlisted
Paulette Jiles
- Shortlisted
- The Throwback SpecialShortlisted
Chris Bachelder
2015
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- RefundShortlisted
Karen Bender
- Shortlisted
2012
- Won
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2011
- Won
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- Shortlisted
- The SojournShortlisted
Andrew Krivak
- Shortlisted
2008
- Won
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- The EndShortlisted
Salvatore Scibona
- Shortlisted
2007
- Won
- FieldworkShortlisted
Mischa Berlinski
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Varieties of DisturbanceShortlisted
Lydia Davis
2006
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Only RevolutionsShortlisted
Mark Z. Danielewski
- Shortlisted
2005
- Won
- Holy SkirtsShortlisted
René Steinke
- Shortlisted
- TranceShortlisted
Christopher Sorrentino
- Shortlisted
2002
- Won
- Big IfShortlisted
Mark Costello
- Gorgeous LiesShortlisted
Martha McPhee
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
2001
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
2000
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The DiagnosisShortlisted
Alan Lightman
- The Feast of LoveShortlisted
Charles Baxter
1999
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Hummingbird HouseShortlisted
Patricia Henley
- Shortlisted
- Who Do You LoveShortlisted
Jean Thompson
1996
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Giant's HouseShortlisted
Elizabeth McCracken
- The River Beyond the WorldShortlisted
Janet Peery
1995
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The House on the LagoonShortlisted
Rosario Ferré
1994
- Won
- Moses SupposesShortlisted
Ellen Currie
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- White Man's GraveShortlisted
Richard Dooling
1993
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Pugilist at RestShortlisted
Thom Jones
1992
- Won
- Bastard Out of CarolinaShortlisted
Dorothy Allison
- Dreaming in CubanShortlisted
Cristina García
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1991
- Won
- Beyond DeservingShortlisted
Sandra Scofield
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1980
- Won
- Won
- Shortlisted
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- Shortlisted
- Miss MacIntosh, My Darling, Volumes 1 and 2Shortlisted
Marguerite Young
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1979
- Won
- Shortlisted
- The FamilyShortlisted
David Plante
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1978
- Won
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- Madder MusicShortlisted
Peter De Vries
- The Public BurningShortlisted
Robert Coover
- Shortlisted
1977
- Won
- A Fine RomanceShortlisted
Cynthia Propper Seton
- Shortlisted
- The BalloonistShortlisted
MacDonald Harris
- Shortlisted
1976
- Won
- Beyond the Bedroom WallShortlisted
Larry Woiwode
- Shortlisted
- Other People's LivesShortlisted
Johanna Kaplan
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1975
- Won
- Won
- Shortlisted
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Guilty Pleasures
- Shortlisted
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- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Death of the DetectiveShortlisted
Mark Smith
- Shortlisted
1974
- Won
- Won
- Apostles of LightShortlisted
Ellen Douglas
- Shortlisted
- Black ConceitShortlisted
John Leonard
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Ninety-Two in the ShadeShortlisted
Thomas McGuane
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1973
- Won
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Geronimo RexShortlisted
Barry Hannah
- HermaphrodeityShortlisted
Alan H. Friedman
- Mumbo JumboShortlisted
Ishmael Reed
- Shortlisted
- The Friends of Eddie CoyleShortlisted
George V. Higgins
- The Late Great CreatureShortlisted
Brock Brower
- Shortlisted
- The PrinceShortlisted
R. M. Koster
- Shortlisted
1972
- Won
- A Garden of SandShortlisted
Earl Thompson
- Farragan's RetreatShortlisted
Tom McHale
- Shortlisted
Lion Country
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1971
- Won
- Shortlisted
- DeliveranceShortlisted
James Dickey
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1970
- Won
- Fat CityShortlisted
Leonard Gardner
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1969
- Won
- A Fan's NotesShortlisted
Frederick Exley
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1968
- Won
- Shortlisted
- The ChosenShortlisted
Chaim Potok
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1967
- Won
- Shortlisted
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- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1966
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The (Diblos) NotebookShortlisted
James Merrill
- The Liberation of Lord Byron JonesShortlisted
Jesse Hill Ford
1965
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Second SkinShortlisted
John Hawkes
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The MartyredShortlisted
Richard E. Kim
- To an Early GraveShortlisted
Wallace Markfield
1964
1963
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Golden SpurShortlisted
Dawn Powell
1962
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Among the DangsShortlisted
George P. Elliott
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Morning and the EveningShortlisted
Joan Williams
- The PawnbrokerShortlisted
Edward Lewis Wallant
- Shortlisted
1961
- Won
- A Separate PeaceShortlisted
John Knowles
- Shortlisted
- Generation Without FarewellShortlisted
Kay Boyle
- Shortlisted
- The Body of a Young ManShortlisted
Mildred Walker
- Shortlisted
- The Christening PartyShortlisted
Francis Steegmuller
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1960
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Men DieShortlisted
H. L. Humes
- Mrs. BridgeShortlisted
Evan S. Connell
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Cool WorldShortlisted
Warren Miller
- Shortlisted
- The Haunting of Hill HouseShortlisted
Shirley Jackson
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Return of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*NShortlisted
Leo Rosten
- The Third ChoiceShortlisted
Elizabeth Janeway
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1959
- Won
- Anatomy of a MurderShortlisted
Robert Traver
- Shortlisted
- Home from the HillShortlisted
William Humphrey
- Shortlisted
- The Ginger ManShortlisted
J. P. Donleavy
- The Lost CountryShortlisted
J. R. Salamanca
- The Winthrop WomanShortlisted
Anya Seton
1958
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Atlas ShruggedShortlisted
Ayn Rand
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Return of Lady BraceShortlisted
Nancy Wilson Ross
- The Velvet HornShortlisted
Andrew Nelson Lytle
1957
- Won
- Shortlisted
- A Walk on the Wild SideShortlisted
Nelson Algren
- Further Fables for Our TimeShortlisted
James Thurber
- Shortlisted
Generations of Men
John Clinton Hunt
- Shortlisted
- GreenwillowShortlisted
B. J. Chute
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
1956
- Won
- Shortlisted
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1955
- Won
- Lord GrizzlyShortlisted
Frederick Manfred
- Pictures from an InstitutionShortlisted
Randall Jarrell
- Shortlisted
- The Bad SeedShortlisted
William March
- Shortlisted
The Courts of Memory
Frank Rooney
- The DollmakerShortlisted
Harriette Arnow
- Shortlisted
- The Last HuntShortlisted
Milton Lott
- The Night of the HunterShortlisted
Davis Grubb
- Shortlisted
1954
- Won
1953
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Jefferson SelleckShortlisted
Carl Jonas
- Many MansionsShortlisted
Isabel Bolton
- The Build-UpShortlisted
William Carlos Williams
- Shortlisted
- The Gathering DarknessShortlisted
Thomas Gallagher
- The LandsmenShortlisted
Peter Martin
- Shortlisted
- Winds of MorningShortlisted
H. L. Davis
1952
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Melville Goodwin, USAShortlisted
John P. Marquand
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Grass HarpShortlisted
Truman Capote
- The Holy SinnerShortlisted
Thomas Mann
- Shortlisted
- The Strange ChildrenShortlisted
Caroline Gordon
- The Witch DiggersShortlisted
Jessamyn West
1951
- Won
- The Trouble of One HouseShortlisted
Brendan Gill
Frequently asked questions
- Which books are on the 2026 National Book Award for Fiction shortlist?
- 5 books: “Beginning Middle End” by Valeria Luiselli, “Dèy” by Edwidge Danticat, “Mad Eden” by Morgan Thomas, “Paradiso 17” by Hannah Lillith Assadi, and “Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You” by Julián Delgado Lopera. The winner hasn't been announced yet.
- Who won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2025?
- “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)” by Rabih Alameddine won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2025.
- Who are the most recent National Book Award for Fiction winners?
- 2025: “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)” by Rabih Alameddine; 2024: “James” by Percival Everett; 2023: “Blackouts” by Justin Torres; 2022: “The Rabbit Hutch” by Tess Gunty; 2021: “Hell of a Book” by Jason Mott.
- Has anyone won the National Book Award for Fiction more than once?
- Yes - 9 authors have: Saul Bellow (1954, 1965, 1971); William Faulkner (1951, 1955); Wright Morris (1957, 1981); John Cheever (1958, 1981); Bernard Malamud (1959, 1967); Philip Roth (1960, 1995); John Updike (1964, 1982); William Gaddis (1976, 1994); Jesmyn Ward (2011, 2017).