Irish author among Booker hopefuls

Irish author Anne Enright is one of six hopefuls for the 39th Man Booker Prize which will be announced tonight.

Dublin-born Enright, 44 is nominated for her novel, The Gathering, which is about the breakdown of family relationships and is set in Ireland and Britain.

The last Irish winner was John Banville in 2005 for his book, The Sea.

The judging panel’s first choice will receive £50,000, (€72,000) and a guaranteed boost in sales.

All six shortlisted authors receive £2,500 (€4,000).

Also on the shortlist is 1998 winner Ian McEwan with On Chesil Beach and Nicola Barker with Darkmans.

Other contenders include Mohsin Hamid with The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Lloyd Jones with Mister Pip and Indra Sinha with Animal’s People.

This winner will be announced at a ceremony in the Guildhall in London tonight.