Tudor novel heads Man Booker Prize shortlist
A HISTORICAL novel based on Thomas Cromwell's rise to power in the Tudor court has emerged the bookies' early favourite to win this year's Man Booker Prize.
Odds for Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall - set during the reign of King Henry VIII - to scoop the prestigious literary award are currently at 4-5.
Five British authors dominated this shortlist of six including Mantel and A.S. Byatt - both former judges of the coveted prize for fiction.
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South African author J.M. Coetzee also made the shortlist with his fictionalised memoir Summertime, putting him in line for what would be an unprecedented third Booker.
The winner, which will be announced on October 6, can expect increased sales and worldwide recognition - as well as £50,000 prize money.
Last year's winner, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, has sold over half a million copies in Britain and has been translated into 39 languages.
The chair of judges, broadcaster and author James Naughtie, said: "We're thrilled to be able to announce such as strong shortlist, so enticing that it will certainly give us a headache when we come to select the winner.
"The choice will be a difficult one. There is thundering narrative, great inventiveness, poetry and sharp human insight in abundance.
"These are six writers on the top of their form."
The judging panel also includes biographer Lucasta Miller, literary editor of the Sunday Telegraph Michael Prodger, academic John Mullan and comedienne Sue Perkins.
MAN BOOKER PRIZE SHORTLIST
A.S. Byatt: The Children's Book
Random House, Chatto & Windus
J.M. Coetzee: Summertime
Random House, Harvill Secker
Adam Foulds: The Quickening Maze
Random House, Jonathan Cape
Hilary Mantel: Wolf Hall
HarperCollins, Fourth Estate
Simon Mawer: The Glass Room
Little Brown, Virago
Sarah Waters: The Little Stranger
Little Brown, Virago