2023 Booker Prize Longlist Announced: The literary stage has been set ablaze with the recent unveiling of the 2023 Booker Prize longlist, a dazzling array of talent that has left readers and critics alike captivated. Among the illustrious lineup of thirteen authors, a striking ten have graced the longlist for the very first time, a fresh breeze blowing through the literary landscape. This wave of newcomers includes four brilliant debut novelists who have bravely ventured into uncharted waters, adding an extra layer of excitement to the mix.
Notably, the Emerald Isle has proudly contributed to this year’s list, with four remarkable authors hailing from the enchanting landscapes of Ireland. The transatlantic literary bridge seems to have undergone a subtle shift, as only two gifted American writers have managed to secure their spots on the list, a marked contrast from the six who were honored in the previous year.
As the anticipation reaches its zenith, the sentiments expressed by Esi Edugyan, the distinguished jury chair, resonate powerfully: “The list is defined by its freshness—by the irreverence of new voices, by the iconoclasm of established ones.” This celebration of innovation and audacity promises to deliver a literary feast that will leave an indelible mark on the minds and hearts of all who engage with these literary treasures.
The books were chosen from a list of 163 publisher-submitted titles written in English and published in the U.K. or Ireland between October 1 of last year and September 30 of this year. The titles, with their U.K. publishers listed, are as follows:
- A Spell of Good Things (Canongate) by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ ̀(Nigerian)
- Old God’s Time (Faber & Faber) by Sebastian Barry (Irish)
- Study for Obedience (Granta Books) by Sarah Bernstein (Canadian)
- If I Survive You (4th Estate) by Jonathan Escoffery (American)
- How to Build a Boat (Harvill Secker) by Elaine Feeney (Irish)
- This Other Eden (Hutchinson Heinemann) by Paul Harding (American)
- Pearl (The Indigo Press) by Siân Hughes (British)
- All the Little Bird-Hearts (Tinder Press) by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow (British)
- Prophet Song (Oneworld) by Paul Lynch (Irish)
- In Ascension (Atlantic Books) by Martin MacInnes (British)
- Western Lane (Picador) by Chetna Maroo (British)
- The Bee Sting (Hamish Hamilton) by Paul Murray (Irish)
- The House of Doors (Canongate) by Tan Twan Eng (Malaysian)
The shortlist of six books will be announced on September 21, with the winner of the £50,000 prize will be announced at an event at Old Billingsgate, London, on November 26.
Also, Read: A Guide to 13 Books on the International Booker Prize 2023 Longlist
The list was originally published in Publishers Weekly.
