The Booker Price Shortlist

And finally The Booker Prize Shortlist is announced this last week. With four writers of colour among its six authors, and four debuts within the six finalists, and four women writers out of six, and four of the shortlisted titles coming from independent publishers, this year's shortlist which was announced 15 September is the most diverse line-up in the prize's history.

The 2020 shortlist is:

• The New Wilderness by  Diane Cook  (Oneworld Publications)
• This Mournable Body by  Tsitsi Dangarembga  (Faber & Faber)
• Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi (Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House)
• The Shadow King by  Maaza Mengiste  (Canongate Books)
• Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart (Picador, Pan Macmillan)
• Real Life by  Brandon Taylor  (Originals, Daunt Books Publishing)

Reaction was both positive and divided. Last year’s winner, Bernardine Evaristo, who was jointly awarded the prize with Margaret Atwood, wrote on Twitter that she was “so excited by this groundbreaking shortlist for the 21st century”. “If you’re looking for fresh perspectives and narratives, surely you’re going to find it among the most underrepresented voices?” she wrote.

The winner will be announced on 17 November, with the traditional dinner at the
Guildhall in London attended by the great and good of British literature replaced with an event broadcast from the city’s Roundhouse venue in collaboration with BBC Arts. You can learn more on the subject on TheBookerPrizes Youtube channel and its website.