And Then There Were Six: Booker Prize Shortlist Announced

by Niall McArdle

source: Man Booker

The Man Booker Prize announced its shortlist for this year’s award this morning, and for the first time in Booker history two American novelists are in the running. The Man Booker Prize has been traditionally open to novels in English from the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth, but the rules were altered last year to admit novels in English from anywhere in the world. Some people were not happy about that. 

 

 

 

The six novels on the list are To Rise Again At A Decent Hour by Jonathan Ferris, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler, The Narrow Road To The Deep North by Richard Flanagan, J by past Booker-winner Howard Jacobson, The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee, and How To Be Both by Ali Smith.

 

Booker Judge A.C Grayling. source: The Guardian

 Chair of the judging panel A. C. Grayling said there had been “lengthy and intensive debate” to decide the final six books from the longlist of 13 novels. “It is a strong, thought-provoking shortlist which we believe demonstrates the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English.” 

 

 

 

Past winner Jacobson is joint-favorite with Smith to win the prize, worth £50,000. Bookmaker William Hill has the two authors at 3/1. 

 

 

The Booker Prize winner will be announced in London on October 14th. My brief two-part history of the Prize can be found here and here.