Several non-Brits among this year’s Booker Prize nominees – Kulturnytt at P1

Four of the six authors on the list are people of skin color other than white. In addition, almost all of the candidates are non-British.

The Booker Prize has been awarded since 1969 and is one of the most prestigious literary prizes and is awarded to an author who, according to the jury, has published the best novel in English as an original language, the award is worth approximately SEK 560,000.

Nominated this year Avni Doshi, Tsetse Dangarimbaga, Douglas Stewart, Mazza Mengisti, Diane Cook and Brandon Taylor. All but Tsitsi Dangarimbaga and Maza Mengisti are newcomers and apart from Dangarimbaga they are all US citizens, according to reports. Watchman.

The fact that there are so many US citizens raises questions in the UK. Only a few years ago, the rules of the award were changed so that even non-British writers could receive the award.

And indeed now There have been criticisms of the absence of British authors. But jury chief Margaret Busby dismisses the criticism, telling BBC Front Row that the books were read without covers and prior author information, often as pdf files, we read books as books.

– We did not know what their nationality was, nor did we check passports or work permits. Margaret Busby says: We read books as books.

What’s also clear is that double Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel will not be taking home the award for the third time. She won the award for her two books on Thomas Cromwell, and her third book on it was published in Swedish.
The award ceremony will take place in November.

Andrea Valderrama
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