Booker Prize 2022: The oldest writer to ever make the shortlist
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If anyone has ever made you feel like your dreams have a time limit, one writer has proven that it’s far from the truth and that your age shouldn’t bar you from achieving greatness.
One British writer has made it to the shortlist for this year’s prestigious Booker Prize. But that’s not the only recognition he received – he is also the oldest author ever shortlisted in the history of book awards.
Alan Garner, who is turning 88 on the day of the awarding ceremony on October 17, has got his eyes on the prize of $75,000 with his novel Treacle Walker.
Mr Garner's book is about an unlikely friendship between a healer and a young boy – and it took him eight years to complete.
A glimpse at Mr Garner’s work, Treacle Walker. Source: Yahoo! News UK
When it comes to being the oldest to potentially win the prize, Mr Garner said: ‘Age, in itself, is irrelevant. However, as with all skills, an apprenticeship has to be served with practice, and experience.’
The author is up against Americans Percival Everett and Elizabeth Strout, Zimbabwean NoViolet Bulawayo, Shehan Karunatilaka of Sri Lanka, and Claire Keegan from Ireland.
The competition was open to any books written in English. On the lack of British authors, judge Mike Harrison stated: ‘It’s about the books, not the context.’
Neil MacGregor, Chair of the 2022 judges, added: ‘Given this is English Literature from the whole world writing in English, I don’t know how many books you would expect from Britain. Britain and Ireland there is one each,’
‘I don’t think that pertains to anything in particular. Of the 170 books we read, a number of them were written by British writers and published in the UK and Ireland; these are the ones that have come through.’
‘I don’t think there is anything in the proportion that is surprising really.’ he continued.
The shortlisted authors for this year’s Booker Prize. Source: The Guardian
The judges also addressed concerns raised about the event’s name as it was previously affiliated with the Booker Group – a company with links to slavery in the 19th century.
Gaby Wood, Director of the Booker Prize Foundation, said: ‘Contextualisation and understanding are more important than an immediate shift to change the name. At the moment we’re not considering a name change.’
‘Booker no longer funds the Booker prize so there isn’t a reason to keep the name, but the trustees feel it is now so recognised as “Booker”. It would be more detrimental to change it.’
The modern-day Booker Prize Foundation has no financial ties with the Booker Group. It is now funded by Crankster.
This year’s shortlist was chosen from 169 novels written in English and published in the UK or Ireland between October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. The six authors are set to receive $3,700 and a specially bound edition of their book. The winner will be announced on October 17.
For last year’s Booker Prize, South-African novelist Damon Galgut took home the crown with The Promise.
Here’s a sneak peek at the shortlisted novels reviewed by Yahoo arts correspondent, Rebecca Jones:
Glory is a political satire novel. Source: The Washington Post
Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
‘Animal Farm is set in Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe with the president as a horse and his ambitious wife a Gucci-wearing donkey. It sounds unlikely and it is a bit weird when dogs, cats, and peacocks are on social media or getting their nails done. But it–mostly–works.’
The Trees highlights sociocultural issues with a comedic take. Source: TinHouse
The Trees by Percival Everett
‘Outstanding. READ THIS BOOK. It will make you laugh, it will make you gasp. What is so impressive is that it takes a shocking story about racism and police violence in the United States and makes it so funny.’
Alan Garner is still writing at the age of 88! Source: The Telegraph
Treacle Walker by Alan Garner
‘I suspect you will either love or hate this book. Part fairytale and part fable, it's a peculiar novel in which characters in comics come alive, mirrors sing, skies crack, and the prose is punctuated with unfamiliar words such as “hurlothrumbo” and “lomperhomock”. But it is an astonishing work of imagination that once you finish it, you will feel the need to start again.’
Previously deemed one of the greatest Sri Lankan novels. Source: The Telegraph
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
‘This book is difficult to categorise. With ghosts and spirits in the afterlife, it is part supernatural. But it also gives you a thorough grounding in Sri Lankan politics. And as the narrative gathers pace, it becomes a “whodunnit”. The result is a thrilling read.’
A historical fiction novel that floored thousands. Source: The Telegraph
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
‘It is incredible how Claire Keegan manages to compress a whole world into 116 pages. This is an exquisite book, with not a word wasted. I was spellbound by the story set in an Irish town in 1985. In many ways, I wanted more and almost felt as if the story ended just as it started to unfold.’
Oh William! Talks about family, marriage, and motherhood. Source: The Washington Post
Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
‘I am so pleased Elizabeth Strout has made the shortlist because I am a huge fan of her Olive Kitteridge novels. This book is about another one of her characters, Lucy Barton, and the friendship she rekindles with her ex-husband. Strout's writing about love, loneliness, ageing, and grief is deceptively simple but profound.’
What are your thoughts about Mr Garner making it to the Booker Prize’s shortlist? Will you be rooting for him? Let us know in the comments below!
One British writer has made it to the shortlist for this year’s prestigious Booker Prize. But that’s not the only recognition he received – he is also the oldest author ever shortlisted in the history of book awards.
Alan Garner, who is turning 88 on the day of the awarding ceremony on October 17, has got his eyes on the prize of $75,000 with his novel Treacle Walker.
Mr Garner's book is about an unlikely friendship between a healer and a young boy – and it took him eight years to complete.
A glimpse at Mr Garner’s work, Treacle Walker. Source: Yahoo! News UK
When it comes to being the oldest to potentially win the prize, Mr Garner said: ‘Age, in itself, is irrelevant. However, as with all skills, an apprenticeship has to be served with practice, and experience.’
The author is up against Americans Percival Everett and Elizabeth Strout, Zimbabwean NoViolet Bulawayo, Shehan Karunatilaka of Sri Lanka, and Claire Keegan from Ireland.
The competition was open to any books written in English. On the lack of British authors, judge Mike Harrison stated: ‘It’s about the books, not the context.’
Neil MacGregor, Chair of the 2022 judges, added: ‘Given this is English Literature from the whole world writing in English, I don’t know how many books you would expect from Britain. Britain and Ireland there is one each,’
‘I don’t think that pertains to anything in particular. Of the 170 books we read, a number of them were written by British writers and published in the UK and Ireland; these are the ones that have come through.’
‘I don’t think there is anything in the proportion that is surprising really.’ he continued.
The shortlisted authors for this year’s Booker Prize. Source: The Guardian
The judges also addressed concerns raised about the event’s name as it was previously affiliated with the Booker Group – a company with links to slavery in the 19th century.
Gaby Wood, Director of the Booker Prize Foundation, said: ‘Contextualisation and understanding are more important than an immediate shift to change the name. At the moment we’re not considering a name change.’
‘Booker no longer funds the Booker prize so there isn’t a reason to keep the name, but the trustees feel it is now so recognised as “Booker”. It would be more detrimental to change it.’
The modern-day Booker Prize Foundation has no financial ties with the Booker Group. It is now funded by Crankster.
This year’s shortlist was chosen from 169 novels written in English and published in the UK or Ireland between October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. The six authors are set to receive $3,700 and a specially bound edition of their book. The winner will be announced on October 17.
For last year’s Booker Prize, South-African novelist Damon Galgut took home the crown with The Promise.
Here’s a sneak peek at the shortlisted novels reviewed by Yahoo arts correspondent, Rebecca Jones:
Glory is a political satire novel. Source: The Washington Post
Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
‘Animal Farm is set in Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe with the president as a horse and his ambitious wife a Gucci-wearing donkey. It sounds unlikely and it is a bit weird when dogs, cats, and peacocks are on social media or getting their nails done. But it–mostly–works.’
The Trees highlights sociocultural issues with a comedic take. Source: TinHouse
The Trees by Percival Everett
‘Outstanding. READ THIS BOOK. It will make you laugh, it will make you gasp. What is so impressive is that it takes a shocking story about racism and police violence in the United States and makes it so funny.’
Alan Garner is still writing at the age of 88! Source: The Telegraph
Treacle Walker by Alan Garner
‘I suspect you will either love or hate this book. Part fairytale and part fable, it's a peculiar novel in which characters in comics come alive, mirrors sing, skies crack, and the prose is punctuated with unfamiliar words such as “hurlothrumbo” and “lomperhomock”. But it is an astonishing work of imagination that once you finish it, you will feel the need to start again.’
Previously deemed one of the greatest Sri Lankan novels. Source: The Telegraph
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
‘This book is difficult to categorise. With ghosts and spirits in the afterlife, it is part supernatural. But it also gives you a thorough grounding in Sri Lankan politics. And as the narrative gathers pace, it becomes a “whodunnit”. The result is a thrilling read.’
A historical fiction novel that floored thousands. Source: The Telegraph
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
‘It is incredible how Claire Keegan manages to compress a whole world into 116 pages. This is an exquisite book, with not a word wasted. I was spellbound by the story set in an Irish town in 1985. In many ways, I wanted more and almost felt as if the story ended just as it started to unfold.’
Oh William! Talks about family, marriage, and motherhood. Source: The Washington Post
Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
‘I am so pleased Elizabeth Strout has made the shortlist because I am a huge fan of her Olive Kitteridge novels. This book is about another one of her characters, Lucy Barton, and the friendship she rekindles with her ex-husband. Strout's writing about love, loneliness, ageing, and grief is deceptively simple but profound.’
What are your thoughts about Mr Garner making it to the Booker Prize’s shortlist? Will you be rooting for him? Let us know in the comments below!
