An anomaly in the Man Booker prize rules that made books published in Ireland ineligible for the £50,000 award because they were not published in the UK has been removed, after years of frustration among Irish presses. When the novel, deemed “exceptional” in a Guardian review, was later picked up by Edinburgh-based publisher Canongate, it was then longlisted for 2017’s Man Booker prize. Why are Irish publishers shut out of the Man Booker prize? Booker prize foundation literary director Gaby Wood said: “We’re delighted to support Irish publishers and the writers whose work they bring into the world. Given the obvious prestige of the Man Booker prize, these publishers would not want to stand in their way and would understand why they needed to leave.

Source: The Guardian January 08, 2018 15:11 UTC