New England Society Book Award

The New England Society Book Award is designed to recognize books that honor New England culture and to help expand the audience for these books. The award is presented by the New England Society in the City of New York (NES), one of the oldest social, charitable and cultural organizations in the United States. To qualify for consideration, nominated titles must be about New England or set in New England.

One of the hallmarks of NES is its interest in honoring the New England tradition of learning and intellect. At the first Annual Dinner in 1805 at the City Hotel on Broadway, the practice began of inviting eminent personalities to attend the Dinner and to deliver addresses of interest to NES Members. The roster of speakers who attended these early Dinners reflects the American historical narrative: from Commander Stephen Decatur, War of 1812 Hero, and statesman Daniel Webster to U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. Over the years, many illustrious literary figures also spoke at NES: authors Ralph Waldo Emerson, Samuel L. Clemens, Louis Auchincloss and Dominick Dunne; journalists Brendan Gill, George Plimpton, William F. Buckley, Jr., Harrison Salisbury and Cleveland Amory, and historians Samuel Eliot Morison, David McCullough and Harlow Giles Unger. Many of these orations and addresses are preserved in the NES Archives. To honor this rich history, NES established the New England Society Book Award to recognize books of merit that celebrate New England and its culture.

The New England Society Book Award is presented annually to the authors of books published the previous year. Books are nominated by the publishers and there are three categories for nominations: Fiction, Non-Fiction and Art & Photography. The NES Book Awards Committee oversees the selection process. Awards are announced in March and an Awards Luncheon is held in April. Award recipients receive a certificate and an award seal that can be placed or printed on the book, and used in all publicity materials.

To download a PDF about the New England Society Book Award which includes eligibility parameters, entry guidelines and a Nomination Form, click here. Submissions for the 2012 Awards were due on January 18, 2012. Information about the 2013 Awards will be released in late 2012.

NES recently announced the shortlist for the 2012 New England Society Book Awards. Click here to download the press release and learn more about each of the shortlisted titles.

For more information about the New England Society Book Award, please contact the New England Society Office by phone at (212) 752-1938 or by email at nes@nesnyc.org.