BOOKER PRIZE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Sports and Awards)

Context: The Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the literary world, has recently come under fire for the historical links to slavery of its original sponsor, Booker Group.

Booker Prize

• About: It is globally recognized as the premier literary award for a single work of fiction.
• Origins: Founded in the UK in 1969, the Booker Prize initially celebrated Commonwealth writers before expanding its eligibility to writers worldwide.
• Objective: To champion outstanding fiction by honoring the best English-language novel of the year.
• Eligibility Criteria: Any novel originally written in English and published in the UK and Ireland during the prize year qualifies for consideration.

o Works must be original English compositions, not translations, and published by registered UK or Irish imprints.

• Prize Rewards: The winner of the Booker Prize is awarded £50,000, while each shortlisted author receives £2,500.
• Booker Prize Foundation: Established in 2002 as a registered charity, the Booker Prize Foundation oversees the awarding of both the Man Booker Prize for Fiction and the Man Booker International Prize.