Le Carre requests to be taken off Booker shortlist

THRILLER writer John Le Carre has asked that his name be withdrawn from the shortlist for the Man Booker International Prize, disappointing judges who said they admired his work.

The best-selling spy novelist was among 13 authors in consideration for the €68,000 literary award, which for the first time included Chinese authors in Wang Anyi and Su Tong.

The chair of the judging panel, writer, academic and rare-book dealer Rick Gekoski said he received a statement from Le Carre only 45 minutes before the announcement of the shortlist in Sydney.