Six Books Shortlisted for Lost Man Booker Prize

26 March 2010

The Lost Man Booker Prize shortlist was announced last night at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival. The book award has been introduced as a one off to celebrate books that did not get the recognition they deserved when the conditions of the prize were changed in 1971. The change meant that books that had not been published within the twelve month period of April to March could be included in the longlist. The consequences were  that some amazing literature went unrecognised.

Although judges Katie Derham, Tobias Hill and Rachel Cooke have selected the shortlist, it is the international public that will decide the winner. Voting takes place via the Man Booker Prize website until 23 April 2010, and the winner will be announced on 19 May 2010. The books will be discussed at a live debate featured by the Times Online at mid-day today.

Here are the six books that have been shortlisted:

Nina Bawden - The Birds on the Trees

Patrick White – The Vivisector

Shirley Hazzard – The Bay of Noon

Mary Renault – Fire From Heaven

J G Farrell – Troubles

Muriel Spark – The Driver's Seat