Man Booker Prize Shortlist 2014: see the nominees in London
Three Brits, two Americans, and an Australian make up a diverse and dazzlingly talented 2014 shortlist: here's where to see the Booker nominees in London. By Lucy Brooks
Ali Smith
Three Brits, two Americans, and an Australian make up a diverse and dazzlingly talented 2014 shortlist: here's our guide to the best Booker events in London.
This prestigious literary prize is awarded to an original novel written in the English language that shows excellence. For over 40 years only commonwealth and Irish writers were eligible, until a change of rules this year enfranchised American writers. Contrary to panicked predictions, the resultant long list was by no means dominated by stateside novels, though, contentiously, only three of the 13 contenders are female.
The Booker Shortlist, 2014
This imbalance is somewhat readdressed in the shortlist: British Heavyweight Ali Smith has been shortlisted twice before and the breathtaking ingenuity of How to be Both has provoked predictions that this year could be third time lucky. Howard Jacobson (currently the bookies' favourite) already has one Booker under his belt, and is in the running again for the thought-provoking dystopian presentation of the past J. Neel Mukherjee 's The Lives of Others gives a mesmerising portrait of the turbulent social change and one family's disintegration in 1960s India. Australian Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North, is a vividly engaging exploration of the prisoners of war working in Burma. Following the rule change, two Americans made the cut: Karen Joy Fowler, whose unforgettable We Are All Comepletely Beside Ourselves is as refreshingly readable as it is artfully written; and Joshua Ferris (the youngest of the nominees at 39) for the darkly comic To Rise Again at a Decent Hour .
The omission of David Mitchell's masterful The Bone Clocks has sparked surprise. Mitchell's been shortlisted twice before and 2014 was his third time on the long list. Despite the electrifying brilliance of The Bone Clocks, Mitchell is no longer a contender (click here for our exploration of Mitchell's impressive literary so far).
Chair of the judges, writer, philosopher academic and founder of the New College of Humanities, A.C Grayling describes the nominees in terms of breath and variety: "these six exceptional books take the reader on journeys around the world, between the UK, New York, Thailand, Italy, Calcutta and times past, present and future." Grayling stated. "We had a lengthy and intensive debate to whittle the list down to these six. It is a strong, thought-provoking shortlist which we believe demonstrates the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English."
Booker events and London Literary Talks
As part of the Hampstead and Highgate Literary Festival, Neel Mukherajee will discuss the hypnotic The Lives of Others on Sunday 14th September.
Howard Jacobson is part of a starry panel of literary speakers at 5x15 stories on 22nd September. This is an exciting opportunity to hear him speak completely unscripted in an intimate environment.
On the eve of the Booker Prize announcements, the writers and judges will gather at the Southbank to read and discuss this year's contenders. In this evening of readings and discussions , judges A.C Grayling, Jonathan Bate , Sarah Churchwell , Dr Alaistair Niven , Dr Daniel Glaser and Erica Wagne will reflect upon the diverse display of talent. The six shortlisted writers will also be there to read from their novels and engage in the conversation.
Then, after the award ceremony (which will be televised live on the BBC), the winner will give an insightful talk and about the impact of the victory on 17th October at the Regents Street Apple store. This event is free, but get there much before the 7pm start to avoid disappointment.
This prestigious literary prize is awarded to an original novel written in the English language that shows excellence. For over 40 years only commonwealth and Irish writers were eligible, until a change of rules this year enfranchised American writers. Contrary to panicked predictions, the resultant long list was by no means dominated by stateside novels, though, contentiously, only three of the 13 contenders are female.
The Booker Shortlist, 2014
This imbalance is somewhat readdressed in the shortlist: British Heavyweight Ali Smith has been shortlisted twice before and the breathtaking ingenuity of How to be Both has provoked predictions that this year could be third time lucky. Howard Jacobson (currently the bookies' favourite) already has one Booker under his belt, and is in the running again for the thought-provoking dystopian presentation of the past J. Neel Mukherjee 's The Lives of Others gives a mesmerising portrait of the turbulent social change and one family's disintegration in 1960s India. Australian Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North, is a vividly engaging exploration of the prisoners of war working in Burma. Following the rule change, two Americans made the cut: Karen Joy Fowler, whose unforgettable We Are All Comepletely Beside Ourselves is as refreshingly readable as it is artfully written; and Joshua Ferris (the youngest of the nominees at 39) for the darkly comic To Rise Again at a Decent Hour .
The omission of David Mitchell's masterful The Bone Clocks has sparked surprise. Mitchell's been shortlisted twice before and 2014 was his third time on the long list. Despite the electrifying brilliance of The Bone Clocks, Mitchell is no longer a contender (click here for our exploration of Mitchell's impressive literary so far).
Chair of the judges, writer, philosopher academic and founder of the New College of Humanities, A.C Grayling describes the nominees in terms of breath and variety: "these six exceptional books take the reader on journeys around the world, between the UK, New York, Thailand, Italy, Calcutta and times past, present and future." Grayling stated. "We had a lengthy and intensive debate to whittle the list down to these six. It is a strong, thought-provoking shortlist which we believe demonstrates the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English."
Booker events and London Literary Talks
As part of the Hampstead and Highgate Literary Festival, Neel Mukherajee will discuss the hypnotic The Lives of Others on Sunday 14th September.
Howard Jacobson is part of a starry panel of literary speakers at 5x15 stories on 22nd September. This is an exciting opportunity to hear him speak completely unscripted in an intimate environment.
On the eve of the Booker Prize announcements, the writers and judges will gather at the Southbank to read and discuss this year's contenders. In this evening of readings and discussions , judges A.C Grayling, Jonathan Bate , Sarah Churchwell , Dr Alaistair Niven , Dr Daniel Glaser and Erica Wagne will reflect upon the diverse display of talent. The six shortlisted writers will also be there to read from their novels and engage in the conversation.
Then, after the award ceremony (which will be televised live on the BBC), the winner will give an insightful talk and about the impact of the victory on 17th October at the Regents Street Apple store. This event is free, but get there much before the 7pm start to avoid disappointment.
