Booker long list announced

The long list for the prestigious Booker Prize has been announced with literary darlings Alan Hollinghurst and Julian Barnes making the cut.
But the long list of thirteen for the literary award also featured four first time novelists.

Julian Barnes, who lost out in 1984, 1998 and 2005, was nominated for his book The Sense Of An Ending.

Alan Hollinghurst has won previously for In the Line of Beauty and Irish writer Sebastian Barry, has been shortlisted twice but never won.

The panel of five judges, chaired by former director-general of MI5 Dame Stella Rimington, whittled down the selection from 138 books.

She said: "We are delighted by the quality and breadth of our long list, which emerged from an impassioned discussion. The list ranges from the Wild West to multi-ethnic London via post-Cold War Moscow and Bucharest, and includes four first novels."

The long list will be reduced to a short list of six authors to be announced on September 6.

The winner announced on October 18.

The winner and all short-listed nominees will expect a spike in book sales, while winner will receive around $60,000.
 

Last year's prize was won by Howard Jacobson for his book The Finkler Question.
 

Bookmakers William Hill installed the well-known Hollinghurst as the 5/1 favourite to win the prize followed by Barnes at 6/1.