On November 26, 2023, Irish author Paul Lynch secured the prestigious 2023 Booker Prize for his novel, ‘Prophet Song,’ published by Oneworld.
The ceremony took place at Old Billingsgate in London, UK, and the award, including the Iris Trophy, was presented by Shehan Karunatilaka, the 2022 winner.
Recognition and Reward
Paul Lynch’s dystopian novel, set in a future Ireland grappling with tyranny and civil war, earned him a prize of 50,000 pounds sterling along with the Iris Trophy.
This marked Lynch’s fifth novel, positioning him as the fifth Irish author to clinch the esteemed Booker Prize.
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The latest Booker Prize Winner receives the ULTIMATE accolade by not only appear on the Bert's Books #PillarofPopularity, but it's number one!
— Bert’s Books (@bertsbooks) May 15, 2024
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch is our latest Book Club read, so I'll report back soon on what I think…! pic.twitter.com/Rl4khfhabZ
Booker Prize Shortlist
Paul Lynch emerged victorious among six nominees, showcasing the diversity of literary talent:
- The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (Dublin, Ireland)
- Study For Obedience by Sarah Bernstein (Montreal, Canada)
- If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery (United States of America)
- Western Lane by Chetna Maroo (Born in Kenya, resides in London, UK)
- This Other Eden by Paul Harding (New York, USA)
Booker Prize Background
- Established in 1969, the Booker Prize honours the best English-language novels published in the UK or Ireland, irrespective of the author’s nationality.
- The winner is awarded 50,000 Pound sterling, and each of the six shortlisted authors receives 2,500 Pound sterling.
- The trophy, named ‘Iris’ after Iris Murdoch (1978 Booker Prize winner), is designed by Jan Pieńkowski.
Panel Chair and Notable Winners
Esi Edugyan served as the judging panel chair for the 2023 Booker Prize. Notably, Irish writer Anna Burns secured the award in 2018.
The Booker Prize continues to be a hallmark in recognizing outstanding literary achievements and celebrating the diversity and richness of contemporary fiction.
More Awards and Honour
