The final nominees for this year’s Booker Prize for fiction were announced on Tuesday (Sept 6) in Britain. The list features the oldest author and the shortest book ever to make the prestigious six-strong literary shortlist.
The Booker Prize is the top literary honour given to any English novel.
A life-changing opportunity, equal numbers of men and women competed for the award, which was narrowed down from a longlist of 13 revealed in July.
Also read | Booker-winner Geetanjali Shree’s event cancelled in Agra after complaint against her
Octogenarian Englishman Alan Garner, who will turn 88 this year on October 17, when the prize will be announced, was shortlisted for his novel “Treacle Walker”, the shortest novel by word count. Best known for his children’s fantasy books and folktale retellings, he received the nomination after six decades in print.
“They’re not easy books, even though they may be short. But like many great pleasures, some require hard work, and we found them well worth the effort,” Neil MacGregor, chair of the 2022 judges, told AFP.
Another shortlisted Zimbabwean novelist, NoViolet Bulawayo, made it for the second time, for her book “Glory.”
The only other author not from the British Isles or the US was Shehan Karunatilaka of Sri Lanka, nominated for “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.”
The selection of American Percival Everett for “Trees” gave independent publisher Influx Press its first spot on the Booker nominee list.
Also read | South African Damon Galgut wins Booker Prize for ‘The Promise’
Fellow US writer Elizabeth Strout featured for “Oh William!” while Irish author Claire Keegan’s “Small Things Like These” completed the shortlist.
At 116 pages, Keegan’s is the shortest finalist by the number of pages in the Booker Prize’s 53-year history, AFP reported.
MacGregor said that these are the pieces the judges liked. “They’re books that we want to recommend to others. They’re not too long, and that’s maybe evidence that we’re looking at not just great writing, but also some great editing,” he said.
The winner will be announced on October 17.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
