The Editors of The New Criterion are pleased to announce that
Peter Vertacnik
is the winner of the twenty-third New Criterion Poetry Prize.
The New Criterion accepts poetry submissions for the magazine via email only. For consideration by our poetry editor, Adam Kirsch, please send manuscripts in the form of a PDF attachment to [email protected]. Acceptances will be communicated by email. Please do not call the editorial offices to inquire about your submission.
Submissions in any other form will not be considered. The New Criterion no longer accepts submissions by posted mail.
Judges for the New Criterion Poetry Prize:
George Bradley, Roger Kimball & Adam Kirsch
Mr. Vertacnik will receive $3,000 and his book The Nature of Things Fragile will be published by Criterion Books in the winter of 2024.
The New Criterion Poetry Prize was established in 2000, for a book-length manuscript of poems that pay close attention to form. Past recipients of the prize can be found below.
Previous Winners
2022-2023
Some Problems with Autobiography
by Brian Brodeur
Brian Brodeur’s book Some Problems with Autobiography, winner of the twenty-second annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Criterion Books.
2020-2021
In Transit
by Nicholas Pierce
Nicholas Pierce’s book In Transit, winner of the twenty-first annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Criterion Books.
2019-2020
Behemoth
by Bruce Bond
Bruce Bond’s book Behemoth, winner of the twentieth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Criterion Books.
2018 – 2019
The Cylburn Touch-Me-Nots
by Ned Balbo
Ned Balbo’s book The Cylburn Touch-Me-Nots, winner of the nineteenth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Criterion Books.
2017 – 2018
Petty Theft
by Nicholas Friedman
Nicholas Friedman’s book Petty Theft, winner of the eighteenth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Criterion Books.
2016 – 2017
Synæsthesium
by Moira Egan
Moira Egan’s book Synæsthesium, winner of the seventeenth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Criterion Books.
2015 – 2016
Night Vision
by John Foy
John Foy’s book Night Vision, winner of the sixteenth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from St. Augustine’s Press.
2014 – 2015
Umbilical
by Michael Spence
Michael Spence’s book Umbilical, winner of the fifteenth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from St. Augustine’s Press.
2013 – 2014
Fix Quiet
by John Poch
John Poch’s book Fix Quiet, winner of the fourteenth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from St. Augustine’s Press.
2012 – 2013
This Shadowy Place
by Dick Allen
Dick Allen’s book This Shadowy Place, winner of the thirteenth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from St. Augustine’s Press.
2011 – 2012
Lord Byron’s Foot
by George Green
George Green’s book Lord Byron’s Foot, winner of the twelfth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from St. Augustine’s Press.
2010 – 2011
Janet’s Cottage
by D. H. Tracy
D. H. Tracy’s book Janet’s Cottage, winner of the eleventh annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from St. Augustine’s Press.
2009 – 2010
Into These Knots
by Ashley Anna McHugh
Ashley Anna McHugh’s book Into These Knots, winner of the tenth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Ivan R. Dee.
2008 – 2009
Landscape and Journey
by William Virgil Davis
William Virgil Davis’s book Landscape and Journey, winner of the ninth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Ivan R. Dee.
2007 – 2008
Taking the Occasion
by Daniel Brown
Daniel Brown’s book Taking the Occasion, winner of the eighth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is now available from Ivan R. Dee.
2006 – 2007
Foiled Again
by J. Allyn Rosser
J. Allyn Rosser’s book Foiled Again, winner of the seventh annual New Criterion poetry prize, is now available from Ivan R. Dee.
2005 – 2006
The God of this World to His Prophet
by Bill Coyle
Bill Coyle’s book The God of this World to His Prophet, winner of the sixth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Ivan R. Dee.
2004 – 2005
Weighing Light
by Geoffrey Brock
Geoffrey Brock’s book Weighing Light, winner of the fifth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Ivan R. Dee.
2003 – 2004
Zero Meridian
by Deborah Warren
Deborah Warren’s book Zero Meridian, winner of the fourth annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Ivan R. Dee.
2002 – 2003
Skywriting and other poems
by Charles Tomlinson
Charles Tomlinson’s book Skywriting and Other Poems, winner of the third annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Ivan R. Dee.
2001 – 2002
The Thousand Wells
by Adam Kirsch
Adam Kirsch’s The Thousand Wells, winner of the second annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Ivan R. Dee.
2000 – 2001
Early and Late: Selected poems
by Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen’s Early and Late: Selected Poems, winner of the first annual New Criterion poetry prize, is available from Ivan R. Dee.