Politics Take Center Stage at the 76th National Book Awards
The 76th National Book Awards unfolded on November 19 at Manhattan’s Cipriani Wall Street. It drawing a black-tie crowd eager to celebrate one of the publishing world’s most prestigious honors. The ceremony opened on a soulful note, with Grammy-winning artist Corinne Bailey Rae performing a stripped-down version of “Put Your Records On,” creating an intimate atmosphere for the night ahead.
Serving as the evening’s host, author and Emmy-winning actor Jeff Hiller delivered a witty monologue marked by self-deprecation and playful literary humor. He greeted the crowd as the “glitterati of the literati,” joking that more glamorous hosts—such as Patricia Lockwood, Ocean Vuong, or a drag queen named “Elena Ferrante”—would have been better suited for the spotlight. Hiller closed his remarks by thanking nearly every corner of the publishing world—from authors and editors to small presses, audiobook studios, and indie bookstores—for their collective role in sustaining literature.
Roxane Gay Honored for Literary Service
Author Jacqueline Woodson presented the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community to writer and cultural critic Roxane Gay. Woodson praised Gay’s wide-ranging contributions. It including her imprint at Grove Atlantic, her mentorship of emerging industry professionals, and her influential newsletter The Audacity.
Gay received a standing ovation and used her speech to address systemic inequities in publishing. While acknowledging her own privileged experiences within the industry as a Black woman. She emphasized the dismissal many writers of color have historically faced.
“Publishing doesn’t have to be inequitable.” She told the audience, urging industry leaders to use their influence to enact real change. “You will be remembered for how you use that power—or how you don’t.”
George Saunders Receives Lifetime Achievement Medal
George Saunders was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, presented by New Yorker fiction editor Deborah Treisman, who praised him for a career that has already shaped multiple generations of readers.
In his speech, Saunders reflected on writing as a sacred pursuit, describing literature not as a niche artistic pastime but as a daily tool for understanding the world. He credited decades of support from editors, readers, agents, and colleagues for making his career possible, humorously thanking even those who “planned to read [his work] but never got around to it.”
Awards Highlight Global Issues, Identity, and Political Urgency
The ceremony then shifted to the evening’s competitive awards. It beginning with Young People’s Literature, which was awarded to The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri. Nayeri reflected on his family’s refugee experience and how themes of identity and belonging shaped his work.
The Translated Literature award went to We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Robin Myers. Speaking in Spanish, Cabezón Cámara defiantly acknowledged critics of multilingualism and thanked Argentina’s public education system for enabling voices like hers to reach global stages. Myers emphasized the book’s political resonance across nations shaped by colonial legacies. While also criticizing U.S. foreign policy and treatment of migrants.
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Poetry and Nonfiction Awards Deliver Emotional Speeches
The Poetry prize was awarded to Patricia Smith for The Intentions of Thunder, a collection shaped by the loss of her mother. Smith used her speech to reflect on how poetry enables emotional clarity, saying it allows us to confront difficult realities—“look at where you are”—while finding beauty even in grief. She acknowledged the lineage of Black women writers whose work paved her path, including Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde.
In one of the night’s most powerful moments, the Nonfiction award went to Omar El Akkad for One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. El Akkad spoke candidly about the toll of writing a book born from genocide and expressed gratitude to writers who continue to speak out against global injustice. He insisted that those committed to language must oppose forces that threaten free expression, even when they originate from one’s own government.
Fiction Winner Balances Humor With Political Reflection
The final award, Fiction, went to Rabih Alameddine for The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother). Acknowledging earlier speeches addressing geopolitical violence and immigration crackdowns. Alameddine affirmed that writers must sometimes declare “enough” in response to global suffering.
He then shifted to humor, thanking editors, production teams, doctors, and even “drug dealers”. Who helped sustain him during the writing process. “It takes a family,” he said, emphasizing that creativity rarely happens in isolation.
A Night of Celebration Amid National Tensions
As guests continued celebrating into the early hours. The event underscored a broader theme: literature is not just a cultural artifact, but a political force. From conversations about censorship and immigration to tributes to community activism and marginalized voices. The 2025 National Book Awards reinforced that in a polarized era, storytelling remains a powerful tool for resistance and reflection.
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