Three Irish writers in running for Man Booker prize

THREE Irish writers are named in the long list for this year’s £50,000 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

William Trevor (Love and Summer) and Colm Toibin (Brooklyn) along with first-timer Ed O’Loughlin (Not Untrue & Not Unkind) are among the chosen 13 which includes two former winners and three first-time novelists.

Bookies Paddy Power have made South African/Australian author JM Coetzee their 3/1 favourite to win the prize.

Coetzee, whose book Summertime has been nominated, is one of only two novelists to have won the prize twice with Life & Times of Michael K in 1983 and Disgrace in 1999.

A total of 132 books were considered this years and chairman of judges, James Naughtie, said the list was one of the strongest in recent memory.

Broadcaster and author Mr Naughtie said: “We believe it to be one of the strongest lists in recent memory, with two former winners, four past shortlisted writers, three first-time novelists and a span of styles and themes that make this an outstandingly rich fictional mix.

“We kept discovering new talent as well as re-acquainting ourselves with familiar writers, and emerged with a feeling that we were part of an exceptional year.”

The list covers subjects as diverse as the court of Henry VIII, a 19th century Essex asylum, an African war zone and a futuristic Brazilian city.