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Man Booker Prize won by Julian Barnes on fourth attempt | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News | By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News |
Julian Barnes has won the Man Booker Prize for his novel The Sense of an Ending, having been shortlisted on three previous occasions. | |
Barnes - the bookmakers' favourite - said he was "as much relieved as I am delighted" to finally win. | |
The 65-year-old was presented with the £50,000 prize at London's Guildhall. | |
Chairwoman of the judges, ex-MI5 boss Dame Stella Rimington, said the novel had "the markings of a classic of English literature". | |
The judges had come under fire this year from some literary quarters for putting a focus on "readability". | |
In his acceptance speech, Barnes said: "I'd like to thank the judges - whom I won't hear a word against - for their wisdom. And the sponsors for their cheque." | |
Thanking the book's designer, Suzanne Dean, he added: "Those of you who've seen my book - whatever you may think of its contents - will probably agree that it is a beautiful object. | |
"And if the physical book, as we've come to call it, is to resist the challenge of the e-book, it has to look like something worth buying and worth keeping." | |
Dame Stella described the novel as "exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading". | |
She said: "We thought it was a book that spoke to the humankind in the 21st Century." | |
The shortest novel of the six finalists, The Sense of an Ending is about childhood friendship and the imperfections of memory. | The shortest novel of the six finalists, The Sense of an Ending is about childhood friendship and the imperfections of memory. |
It is narrated by a middle-aged man, Tony Webster, who reflects on the paths he and his friends have taken as the past catches up with him via a bequeathed diary. | It is narrated by a middle-aged man, Tony Webster, who reflects on the paths he and his friends have taken as the past catches up with him via a bequeathed diary. |
Dame Stella said that although the main character appeared at first to be "rather boring", he was gradually revealed to be somebody quite different. | Dame Stella said that although the main character appeared at first to be "rather boring", he was gradually revealed to be somebody quite different. |
The former spy chief added: "One of the things the book does is talk about humankind: none of us really know who we are - we present ourselves in all sorts of ways." | The former spy chief added: "One of the things the book does is talk about humankind: none of us really know who we are - we present ourselves in all sorts of ways." |
The other nominees were Carol Birch (Jamrach's Menagerie); Canadians Patrick deWitt (The Sisters Brothers) and Esi Edugyan (Half Blood Blues); and debut authors Stephen Kelman (Pigeon English) and AD Miller (Snowdrops). | The other nominees were Carol Birch (Jamrach's Menagerie); Canadians Patrick deWitt (The Sisters Brothers) and Esi Edugyan (Half Blood Blues); and debut authors Stephen Kelman (Pigeon English) and AD Miller (Snowdrops). |
Barnes had been shortlisted for the prize on three previous occasions, but without success. | Barnes had been shortlisted for the prize on three previous occasions, but without success. |
The London-based author was nominated in 1984 for Flaubert's Parrot, in 1998 for England, England and in 2005 for Arthur and George. | The London-based author was nominated in 1984 for Flaubert's Parrot, in 1998 for England, England and in 2005 for Arthur and George. |
Dame Stella said the five judges had reached a final, unanimous decision after about half an hour of debate on Tuesday. | Dame Stella said the five judges had reached a final, unanimous decision after about half an hour of debate on Tuesday. |
"I can tell you there was no blood on the carpet and nobody went off in a huff," she said. | "I can tell you there was no blood on the carpet and nobody went off in a huff," she said. |
Her fellow Booker judges were writer and journalist Matthew d'Ancona, author Susan Hill, author and politician Chris Mullin and Gaby Wood of the Daily Telegraph. | Her fellow Booker judges were writer and journalist Matthew d'Ancona, author Susan Hill, author and politician Chris Mullin and Gaby Wood of the Daily Telegraph. |
While this year's shortlist has been the best-selling in Booker history, some in the literary world have accused the prize of becoming too populist. | While this year's shortlist has been the best-selling in Booker history, some in the literary world have accused the prize of becoming too populist. |
Dame Stella said the judges had followed the debate "sometimes with great glee and amusement". | |
"We were talking about readability and quality. We were certainly always looking for quality as well," she said. "That fact it's been in the headlines is very gratifying." | "We were talking about readability and quality. We were certainly always looking for quality as well," she said. "That fact it's been in the headlines is very gratifying." |
Sales of the shortlisted novels are up 127% on last year. | Sales of the shortlisted novels are up 127% on last year. |
According to Nielsen BookScan, 98,876 copies were sold in the six weeks after the shortlist was announced. | |
Snowdrops has sold most, shifting more than 35,000 copies since it was shortlisted. Next is Jamrach's Menagerie with 19,500 and The Sense of an Ending with 15,000. | Snowdrops has sold most, shifting more than 35,000 copies since it was shortlisted. Next is Jamrach's Menagerie with 19,500 and The Sense of an Ending with 15,000. |
Barnes's book has sold more than 27,500 copies since it was published in early August. | Barnes's book has sold more than 27,500 copies since it was published in early August. |
At 150 pages, it is not the shortest book to win the Booker. That record is held by Penelope Fitzgerald's 132-page Offshore which won in 1979. | At 150 pages, it is not the shortest book to win the Booker. That record is held by Penelope Fitzgerald's 132-page Offshore which won in 1979. |
Commenting on the winner, Jonathan Ruppin, of Foyles, said: "As a writer characterised by immense intelligence and imagination, it would have been remarkable if Barnes had never won the Booker. | Commenting on the winner, Jonathan Ruppin, of Foyles, said: "As a writer characterised by immense intelligence and imagination, it would have been remarkable if Barnes had never won the Booker. |
"This is definitely one that splits opinion, with some finding it subtly powerful and others frustratingly underdeveloped, but great writers rarely please everyone." | "This is definitely one that splits opinion, with some finding it subtly powerful and others frustratingly underdeveloped, but great writers rarely please everyone." |