i m director of the new school writing program. it s my pleasure to welcome you on the occasion of the award ceremony of the national book critics circle awards. we want to welcome everybody back who attended last night s powerful reading by the nominee that writers and fiction, poetry, nonfiction, criticism, biography and autobiography. those of you that were here will live think readily admit that you experienced something stylish, wonders and rare. we want also to welcome the critics and review worse to come to new york from newspapers and magazines all across the country. the writing program of the new school was honored to co-sponsor these award ceremonies with nbc see. as you know the national book critics circle awards are the only literary honors that are bestowed by practicing critics and reviewers. last night eric banks, the president of the nbcc reminded us that the book s critics circle awards included paul salles, rw lewis and john ashbery. so to honor the first