Booker prize shortlist announced

A Western has made its way on to the Man Booker Prize shortlist for the first time – in what judges have hailed as a “readable” shortlist.

The latest novel from British author Alan Hollinghurst – who had been tipped as one of the favourites to win the £50,000 (€57,000) prize and won in 2004 for The Line of Beauty – has been omitted from the shortlist.