The winner of the Booker Prize for fiction is set to be announced in London on Sunday, and according to bookmakers, the victorious writer will likely be named Paul. Out of the six books competing for the prestigious £50,000 ($63,000) award, three are written by authors with that name: Paul Harding, Paul Lynch, and Paul Murray. The other finalists include Sarah Bernstein, Jonathan Escoffery, and Chetna Maroo. The favorite to win, based on predictions from British bookmakers, is Paul Lynch, followed by Paul Harding and Paul Murray.
The Booker Prize, founded in 1969, is open to novels originally written in English and published in the UK and Ireland, regardless of the author’s nationality. The award has a reputation for transforming writers’ careers, with past winners including Ian McEwan, Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, and Hilary Mantel. The winner will be presented with their trophy during a dinner ceremony in London.
A judging panel led by Canadian novelist Esi Edugyan selected this year’s six finalists from a total of 163 books submitted for consideration. It is worth noting that two previous winners of the Booker Prize were named Paul: Paul Scott in 1977 and Paul Beatty in 2016.
Last year’s winner was Shehan Karunatilaka for his satirical novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, which is set during Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war.
The shortlisted authors participated in a photocall in London, where they posed with their respective books. The event provided an opportunity for the authors to showcase their works and engage with the media.
The anticipation surrounding the announcement of the Booker Prize winner is mounting, particularly with the prominence of multiple authors named Paul among the finalists. As bookmakers’ predictions suggest, the outcome will soon be revealed in this eagerly awaited event celebrating the best in fiction.
Note: The accompanying photos capture the shortlisted authors with their books during the photocall for the Booker Prize 2023 in London.
