Booker Prize shortlist revealed after judges' 'tussle' — SkimNews
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- Marlon James and Douglas Stuart, who won the Booker Prize in 2015 and 2020 respectively, are shortlisted again — James for "The Disappearers" and Stuart for "John of John."
- The shortlist is completed by Elizabeth Strout's "The Things We Never Say," M John Harrison's "The End of Everything," Luke Kennard's "Black Bag," and debut author Rebecca Perry's "May We Feed the King."
- Dame Mary Beard, chairing the judging panel, said agreeing on the final six was "hard work," and seven longlisted books were cut after judges described the selection as "a tussle" and "wrestling like pigs in the mud."
- Jarvis Cocker, frontman of Pulp, joined the judging panel and read entries on tour — including a 02:00 local time meeting from a hotel room in Australia where he wore a towelling dressing gown.
- M John Harrison, 81, would become the oldest Booker winner ever if he takes the £50,000 prize, which will be awarded on 9 November in London on a special edition of BBC Radio 4's Front Row.
- Emma Cline's "Switzy" was a notable longlisted casualty; critic Giles Coren called it "a nailed-on Booker winner" and offered to "eat Mary Beard" if it lost, prompting Beard to quip she'd "get the cooker prepared."
Why it matters: With past winners James and Stuart returning alongside an 81-year-old first-time nominee (Harrison) and debut novelist Perry, the £50,000 prize announced 9 November on BBC Radio 4's Front Row will go to either a repeat laureate or a first-time winner — and Harrison would set the record as the oldest Booker winner ever at 81.
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