Barry makes the long-list for Man Booker prize

WRITERS may loathe cliches, but renowned Irish author Sebastian Barry will no doubt be hoping third time really does prove lucky after he was named on the long-list for this year’s Man Booker prize.

The 56-year-old Dublin-born playwright and novelist is this morning celebrating the latest achievement in a remarkable career after being named among 12 other contenders for a literary crown he has twice before failed to win.

The author of works such as A Long Long Way and The Secret Scripture — which narrowly lost out in 2005 and 2008 — has been among the leading literary lights in Ireland and abroad since the early 1990s.

Speaking from his home in Co Wicklow, he said the latest achievement was “one of those rare times a mere writer may feel he can play for his country”.

Among the other contenders for the Man Booker prize crown — which comes with a £50,000 (€56,500) winning cheque, £2,500 (€2,800) for those on the final six-strong shortlist and a designer-bound edition of the books — are some of the most high-profile authors of the modern era.

They include Julian Barnes, who was long-listed in 1984, 1998 and 2005; and 2004 winner Alan Hollinghurst.

Others who are still in contention after the long-list was whittled down from 138 potential winners are four first-time novelists and three Canadian authors.

The judging panel, chaired by former MI5 director-general Stella Rimington, includes journalists Gaby Wood and Matthew d’Ancona, politician Chris Mullin and novelist Susan Hill.

“We are delighted by the quality and breadth of our long-list, which emerged from an impassioned discussion,” Ms Rimington explained.

“The list ranges from the wild west to multi-ethnic London via post-cold war Moscow and Bucharest, and includes four first novels.”

A shortlist of six authors will be announced on Tuesday, September 6, with the winner revealed on Tuesday, October 18, at a dinner at Guildhall in London.

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

The Man Booker prize is a literary award for the best original full-length novel, written in English, by a citizen of the British commonwealth, Ireland or Zimbabwe.

Five Irish authors have previously won the prestigious award, including JG Farrell (1970 and 1973), Iris Murdoch (1978), Roddy Doyle (1993), John Banville (2005) and Anne Enright (2007).

Bookmakers William Hill have already installed Mr Hollinghurst as the 5/1 favourite to win the prize followed by Julian Barnes at 6/1.

* See Saturday’s Irish Examiner for an in-depth interview with Sebastian Barry