LONDON — Percival Everett and Rachel Kushner, both American writers, have been named among the six finalists for this year’s Booker Prize for fiction, as revealed on Monday. This year, five out of the six shortlisted authors are women, marking a first in the award’s 55-year history.
Everett, who was a Booker finalist in 2022 with “The Trees,” is nominated again for “James.” This novel reimagines Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” through the eyes of Jim, the enslaved man and main Black character. Kushner, previously a finalist with her bestseller “The Mars Room,” returns with the spy narrative “Creation Lake.”
The other contenders for the £50,000 prize include Britain’s Samantha Harvey for “Orbital,” Canada’s Anne Michaels for “Held,” Australia’s Charlotte Wood for “Stone Yard Devotional,” and Yael van der Wouden from the Netherlands for her debut, “The Safekeep.” Van der Wouden is the first Dutch author to make the Booker shortlist.
These shortlisted stories span diverse settings, from World War I battlefields to the 19th-century American Deep South, and even the International Space Station. Edmund de Waal, the chair of this year’s five-member judging panel, commented, “These books showcase storytelling where characters face the world’s instability and complexity. The issues of our times are vividly portrayed.”
The winner will be revealed on 12 November at a ceremony in London. Established in 1969, the Booker Prize honours the best fiction and is open to novels from any country published in the U.K. and Ireland.
What Other Media Are Saying
- AJC highlights American writers Percival Everett and Rachel Kushner’s inclusion among six finalists for the prestigious Booker Prize, emphasizing their notable contributions to literary fiction. (Read more)
- The Guardian reveals the 2024 Booker Prize shortlist, featuring six novels with five written by women, highlighting historical themes, identity, and environmental concerns in a diverse and thought-provoking selection. (Read more)
- Local News 8 reports on the Booker Prize finalists, highlighting a record number of women (five) and notable American writers Percival Everett and Rachel Kushner among the six finalists. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who are the American finalists for this year’s Booker Prize?
Percival Everett and Rachel Kushner.
How many women are shortlisted for the Booker Prize this year?
Five out of six finalists are women.
What is Percival Everett’s shortlisted book for this year?
When will the Booker Prize winner be announced?
The winner will be announced on Nov. 12.
What themes do the shortlisted books cover?
They cover themes from WWI battlefields to the 19th-century Deep South to the International Space Station.