The Booker Prize shortlist was announced today, and the best-known author among the candidates is Julian Barnes and his book THE SENSE OF AN ENDING. Barnes has made the shortlist three times before without winning, and is joined by only one other prior nominee, Carol Birch for JAMRACH’S MENAGERIE.
Two debut novelists are included, Stephen Kelman and A.D. Miller, and Random House UK is the only of the country’s publishing giants represented. US rights to all but one title are already spoken for, and four of the five are already on the market in the US. Canadian Esi Edugyan’s HALF BLOOD BLUES is one book still available here. Agent Anne McDermid tells us they resubmitted after the Booker longlist was announced and she is hopeful the shortlist will drive a deal. “It has been a story that befits our times in a way, her having been declined by all her big option publishers, and being taken up by smaller ones who will now benefit.”
Barnes’ book is the only other one not yet published in the US, where Knopf had it slated for a January 24 release. Spokesman Paul Bogaards told us they are discussing moving up the release this morning.
The full list (with the winner to be named on October 18):
Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending (Jonathan Cape)
Carol Birch, Jamrach’s Menagerie (Canongate)
Patrick deWitt, The Sisters Brothers (Granta)
Esi Edugyan, Half Blood Blues (Serpent’s Tail)
Stephen Kelman, Pigeon English (Bloomsbury)
A.D. Miller, Snowdrops (Atlantic)
Release
DeWitt and Edugyan also made today’s longlist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, along with Michael Ondaatje, David Bezmogzis, Guy Vanderhaeghe, and Myrna Day, whose novel Extensions was chosen by readers. Finalists will be named on October 4, and the winner announced on November 8.
Giller Prize longlist