What is the most prestigious book award?

Receiving a literary award is a dream of many authors, a sign that they’ve “made it” right up there with becoming a best seller.

In the literary world, there are thousands of different prizes awarded to aspiring and established authors each year (check out TCK’s Reader’s Choice Awards if you haven’t already!).

However, a handful of those awards are considered the most prestigious, and they inspire authors everywhere to keep reaching for the stars. In this post, we’ll give you a run-down of some of the most high-profile prizes awarded for literature.

What Are the Most Prestigious Literary Awards?

Below are 12 of the most prestigious literary awards that have recognized some of literature’s greatest writers and launched others into stardom.

1. Nobel Prize in Literature

The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded annually in Stockholm, Sweden to an outstanding author of any country. The ceremony dates back to 1901 and is named after its creator, Alfred Nobel.

The Nobel Committee for Literature sends invitation letters to “qualified individuals” to submit nominations for the prize.

Notable winners: George Bernard Shaw (1925), William Faulkner (1949), Sir Winston Churchill (1953), Ernest Hemingway (1954), Pablo Neruda (1971), Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1982)

2. Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize was stablished in 1917 by Joseph Pulitzer, a prominent newspaper publisher born in Hungary. Today the prize is administered by Columbia University, and is awarded across 22 categories in journalism, books, drama, and music.

Prizes are awarded by the University on the recommendation of The Pulitzer Prize Board, which meets twice annually.

Notable (fiction) winners: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1961); Belovedby Toni Morrison (1988); The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (2020)

3. National Book Award

The National Book Award celebrates the best literature in America. First established in 1950, the Foundation meets each year and assembles 25 “distinguished writers, translators, critics, librarians, and booksellers” to judge the awards. Submissions open in mid-March.

Notable winners: From Here to Eternity by James Jones (1952); The Haunted Land by Tina Rosenberg; Trust Exercise by Susan Choi (2019)

4. Booker Prize

The Booker Prize (formerly the “Man Booker Prize”) was established in 1969. Each year, a panel of judges decide the best novel of the year written in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Notable winners: Life of Piby Yann Martel (2002); The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (2019)

5. Neustadt International Prize For Literature

The Neustadt International Prize For Literature was founded by Ivar Ivask in 1969 as the Books Abroad International Prize for Literature before changing to its current name in 1976. The award recognizes outstanding works in drama, poetry, and fiction.

Notable winners: Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1972); Czesław Miłosz (1978)

6. Women’s Prize for Fiction

The Women’s Prize for Fiction awards were established in 1992, after the Booker Prize of 1991 didn’t include any women at all. A panel of female judges selects the best fiction written by women from around the world.

Notable winners: When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant (2000); An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2019)

7. America Award

The America Award was established in 1994 to recognize lifetime achievements in writing. Part of its mission is to offer an alternative to the famous Nobel Prize in Literature.

Each year, a jury of 6–8 American literary critics, playwrights, poets, and prose writers meet to select a winner. Writers of all countries are eligible.

Notable winners: Peter Handke (2002), John Ashbery (2008)

8. The Hugo Award

The Hugo Award is the most prestigious award given to writers of science fiction. Since 1953, members of the World Science Fiction Convention have gathered annually to vote and administer the awards.

Notable winners: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1986); Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (2001)

9. British Book Awards

The British Book Awards (aka “The Nibbies”) were launched in 1990 by Fred Newman celebrate the best British writers, but also the best books, publishers, and bookshops.

Notable winners: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (2019); Normal People by Sally Rooney (2019)

10. PEN America Literary Awards

Founded in 1963, The PEN America Literary Awards distribute 20 awards 20 across diverse genre, including fiction, poetry, science, and essays. Decisions are made by PEN America and their partners.

Notable winners: Mayumi and the Sea of Happiness by Jennifer Tseng (2016); The City Son by Samrat Upadhyay

11. Costa Book Awards

The Costa Book Awards began in 1971 as the Whitbread Book Awards, until Costa Coffee took over sponsorship in 2006.

The awards recognize a wide range of titles across all genres, by authors who are based in the UK and Ireland.

Notable winners: Brooklyn by Colm Toibin; Normal People by Sally Rooney (2019)

12. John Newbery Medal

Established in 1922, the John Newbery Medal is awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children to authors of “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.”

Notable winners: Holes by Louis Sachar (1999); The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (2004)

Books That Win Literature Awards

Becoming familiar with the most prestigious literary awards is a great way to find some of the best books.

However, as outstanding as award-winning books are, you should also feed an open and curious mind with underrated books that are often just as excellent, but not as well-known.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• List of Book Awards Contests (Updated 2020)
• 2020 Readers Choice Award Winners
• 32 Award-Winning Books by Black Authors
• The Best Books Lists for Every Genre: Our Ultimate List of Book Recommendations

As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

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