National Book Award 1939: Complete list of winners

The National Book Award made its debut in 1939, arriving at a moment when American literary culture was hungry for a major prize to honor outstanding writing. That first year, the award’s nonfiction category recognized Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Wind, Sand and Stars, a poetic meditation on flight, adventure, and human connection that transcended the typical travel narrative. The French author and pioneering aviator crafted something far more philosophical than a simple account of his experiences crossing continents by plane—instead, he wove together reflections on mortality, friendship, and what it means to discover purpose in the vast, indifferent world. It was a fitting choice for an inaugural award, signaling that the National Book Award would champion works of genuine literary merit rather than mere commercial success.

The selection of Wind, Sand and Stars also revealed something important about the award’s values from the very beginning. Here was a book that bridged the gap between accessible storytelling and intellectual depth, between personal memoir and universal themes. Saint-Exupéry’s lyrical prose resonated with readers navigating their own uncertain times, as global tensions mounted in 1939. The National Book Award, in recognizing this masterwork in its first year, established itself as a serious arbiter of literary excellence—a role it has maintained through countless editions and categories in the decades since.

Nonfiction

• Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry