MAN Booker Prize Goes Global

19 September 2013

The Booker Foundation, the organisation responsible for the anual Booker Prize in the UK, has announced it is to changer the rules and allow nominations for books written in English from any country.

Rumours have been circulating from some time and the Booker panel have said that they have been in discussions with authors and publishers for a couple of years. Alternative options, such as a U.S. only prize, have been rejected according to Jonathan Taylor, chair of the Booker Prize Foundation, as this could dilute the the main event.

The change has its critics, however, with several high profile authors and previous judges claiming that the change will make judging impossible. Author AS Buyatt opposes the change as she believes one of the reason the Booker Prize is such a highly regarded literary competition is because all of the judges read all of the books. Something which would be impossible if other countries, in particular the US, where to be included.

We have mixed feelings at Find Book. Of course excellent fiction should be aplauded but will strong competition from America overshaddow the British contingent?