Shortlist Announced for Lost Booker Prize
The Lost Booker Prize is being awarded for books from 1970 which missed out on their chance to win the first time around because of a rule change in 1971. The prize began in 1969 and was originally intended to be retrospective: therefore the 1970 award went to novels published the previous year, but due to a change the 1971 prize went to a 1971 novel, leaving the possible contenders of 1970 no chance. The Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in English-language literature, awarded to the best work of fiction by an author from the Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland.
Six novels and their authors have been announced on the shortlist for the Lost Booker Prize. These are The Birds on the Trees by Nina Bawden, Troubles by J.G. Farrell, The Bay of Noon by Shirley Hazzard, Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault, The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark and The Vivisector by Patrick White. Of those shortlisted, J.G. Farrell is the only one to have already won a Booker Prize as he took the award in 1973 for his work The Siege of Krishnapur. Muriel Spark has been shortlisted twice before, in 1969 for The Public Image and in 1981 Loitering and Intent.
It is no surprise, then, to see that Farrell is currently leading in the odds from Paddy Power to win the 1970 prize at 5/4 with Spark close on his heels at 7/4. However, other bookies seem more in favour of Spark with Ladbrokes offering 3/1 on her win and William Hill 2/1. Farrell is third favourite from both these bookies at 5/2 and 4/1 respectively. Nina Bawden lies in between the two for her shortlisted work at 4/1 from Ladbrokes and 3/1 from William Hill. Trailing in the odds is Patrick White, who has the widest odds at 7/1.
All odds correct at time of writing and are subject to change
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