The Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2014 shortlist is revealed - 09 September 2014

http://www.themanbookerprize.com/news/man-booker-prize-fiction-2014-shortlist-revealed

Joshua Ferris, Richard Flanagan, Karen Joy Fowler, Howard Jacobson, Neel Mukherjee and Ali Smith are today,
Tuesday 9 September, announced as the shortlisted authors for the 2014 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.
Their names were revealed by chair of judges, AC Grayling, at a press conference at the headquarters of Man Group, a
leading investment management firm and the prizes sponsor since 2002.

The judges praised the depth and range of the list, which includes writers from Britain, the United States and
Australia.

The shortlist of six, taken from a longlist of 13, is:

Author (nationality)
Joshua Ferris (US) To Rise Again at a Decent Hour (Viking)
Richard Flanagan (Australian) The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Chatto & Windus)
Karen Joy Fowler (US) We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves (Serpent's Tail)
Howard Jacobson (British) J (Jonathan Cape)
Neel Mukherjee (British) The Lives of Others (Chatto & Windus)
Ali Smith (British) How to be Both (Hamish Hamilton)

Chair of the 2014 judges, AC Grayling, comments on behalf of the judges:

We are delighted to announce our international shortlist. As the Man Booker Prize expands its borders, these
six exceptional books take the reader on journeys around the world, between the UK, New York, Thailand,
Italy, Calcutta and times past, present and future.

We had a lengthy and intensive debate to whittle the list down to these six. It is a strong, thought-provoking
shortlist which we believe demonstrates the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English.
This is the first list to reflect the diversity of the novel in English regardless of the authors nationality, as the
Man Booker Prize has opened up to any author writing originally in English and published in the UK.
Previously, the prize was open to authors from the UK & Commonwealth, Republic of Ireland and Zimbabwe.

Two authors have previously appeared on the prize shortlist. Howard Jacobson is a former winner of the prize,
with The Finkler Question, in 2010. Ali Smith has been shortlisted twice before, with The Accidental (2005)
and Hotel World (2001).

AC Grayling is joined on the 2014 panel of judges by: Jonathan Bate; Sarah Churchwell; Daniel Glaser; Alastair
Niven and Erica Wagner.

Man Group has sponsored the prize since 2002. A leading investment management firm, Man Group was
recognised as a partner who mirrored the quality, integrity and longevity of the Booker Prize.

Manny Roman, CEO of Man Group, comments:

We are very proud to sponsor the Man Booker Prize, recognising the hard work and creativity of these talented
authors. The prize underscores Man Group's charitable focus on literacy and education as well as our
commitment to excellence and entrepreneurship. Together with the wider charitable activities of the Man
Booker Foundation, the prize plays a very important role in promoting literary excellence that we are honoured
to support. Many congratulations to the shortlisted authors.

The shortlisted authors will take part in a series of public events in the week leading up to the winner
announcement, to include: an event for members of the public and UK library staff at the Library of Birmingham
on Wednesday 8 October; a talk and signing at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
on Saturday 11 October and an audience with the authors at the Southbank Centre on Monday 13 October,
hosted by broadcaster Kirsty Wark. Finally, there will be an audience with the winner at Apples Regent Street
branch on Thursday 16 October.

The 2014 judges will now re-read the shortlisted titles in order to select the winner, whose name will be
revealed on Tuesday 14 October 2014 at a ceremony at Londons Guildhall. The winner announcement
will be televised by the BBC, the prizes media partner.