Given to achievements in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature, the National Book Awards were founded in 1950 and have become the nation's preeminent literary pirzes.

2011 Winners 

Fiction

Salvage the Bones, Jesmyn Ward 

Non Fiction

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, Stephen Greenblatt

Poetry

Head Off & Split, Nikki Finney

Young People's Literature

Inside Out & Back Again, Thanhha Lai

Distinguished Contribution to American Letters

John Ashberry 

Literarian Award

Mitchell Kaplan 

National Book Awards Website