The Times reports the names of the authors shortlisted for the Booker Prize here.
1. Banville, John: The Sea
2. Barnes, Julian: Arthur & George
3. Barry, Sebastian: A Long Long Way
4. Ishiguro, Kazuo: Never Let Me Go
5. Smith, Ali: The Accidental
6. Smith, Zadie: On Beauty
A descriptive remark by Zadie Smith – based in the US until recently – on the old country is also passed on by the paper:
“When I think of England now I just think about the England that I loved, and it’s just gone. It’s the way people look at each other on the train; just general stupidity, madness, vulgarity, stupid TV shows, aspirational a******s, money everywhere.
Blimey, what would she have said if she’d failed to get on the shortlist? And do the last two complaints mean she doesn’t want to win the Booker and won’t accept the prize money if she does?
