The Booker Literary Prize in London Announced the Shortlist of Nominees for 2023
The Booker Prize, which is one of the world's foremost literary honors, has unveiled the shortlist of books written in English that are in contention for the award in 2023. The shortlist comprises six publications.
This information has been reported on the prize's official website.
"Despite these books being brimming with hope, humor, and humanity, they tackle many of the most pressing issues of 2023: climate change, immigration, financial hardships, persecution of minorities, political extremism, and the erosion of personal freedoms. They depict characters in search of peace and belonging or mourning lost love. There are books rooted in contemporary reality, shedding light on shameful episodes of history, and envisioning a bleak future," the statement notes.
None of the six authors have previously made it to the Booker Prize shortlist. The shortlist includes two debut novels; there is one British, one Canadian, two Irish, and two American authors.
The shortlist of nominees for the 2023 Booker Prize is as follows:
- "Study for Obedience" by Sarah Bernstein.
Sarah Bernstein is a Canadian writer and scholar. She was born in Montreal and currently resides in Scotland, where she teaches literature and creative writing. In 2015, she published a collection of prose poems titled "Now Comes the Lightning." In 2023, the literary publication Granta named her one of Britain's best young writers.
- "If I Survive You" by Jonathan Escoffery.
Jonathan Escoffery is the recipient of the Plimpton Prize for Fiction in 2020, a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2020, and the ASME Award for Fiction in 2020. His debut novel, "If I Survive You," for which he spent nearly 10 years writing, has made it to the Booker shortlist.
- "This Other Eden" by Paul Harding.
Paul Harding studied at Emgert University in Massachusetts, taught writing at Harvard University, and the University of Iowa. His debut novel, "Tinkers," published in 2009, received the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN Award.
- "Prophet Song" by Paul Lynch.
Paul Lynch is a globally renowned Irish novelist, author of five novels. His second novel, "The Black Snow," was awarded the Prix Libr'à Nous as the best foreign novel. His third novel, "Grace," was named the Irish Novel of the Year in 2018.
- "Western Lane" by Chetna Maru.
Chetna Maru was born in Kenya and currently resides in London. Before becoming a writer, she worked as an accountant.
- "The Bee Sting" by Paul Murray.
Paul Murray was born in Dublin. He wrote his first novel, "An Evening of Long Goodbyes," while pursuing a Master's in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.
The chair of the jury is the writer Esi Edugyan, and the jury members include writer and director Adjoa Andoh, poet, educator, and critic Mary Jean Chan, Columbia University English professor James Shapiro, and writer Robert Webb.
The winner of this year's Booker Prize, who will receive £50,000, will be announced in London on November 26, 2023.