Hello Gentle Reader
I had stated in my announcement of the Booker Prize shortlist for this year that “after the Booker Prize crisis of two-thousand and eleven, it would appear that the award is back on track.” However new revelations, have revealed that my comments were premature. The crisis of two-thousand and eleven, was a mere appetizer to the current, shocking news. Whereas the former Booker Prize controversy, arose when the judges had chosen readability over literary merit; and the subsequent public relations meltdown, where that years chair of judges (Stella Rimington) compared, the critics to the former KGB. It was a rather disappointing, year for the Booker Prize. Before that though there was the Man Booker International Prize, controversy. Which began with, one Chairman – Jonathan Taylor; had gone on to state that the Booker Prize, had reached a more global status, then that of the Nobel; which he called “Political at best.” Then there was the Man Booker International Prize, going to the absent figure of Philip Roth. Earlier John le Carre, requested his name be removed from the shortlist. Then Carmen Callil, abdicated her seat from the judging panel after the award was given to Philip Roth. This all happened, before the usual Booker Prize, had started its own controversy. It was a grand head on collision. The kind of collision, and wreck, one cannot turn away from; yet watches with absent glee and restrained horror; and a steady supply of disbelief. That being said, you can’t help but roast marshmallows, over the flames, and eat popcorn, watching the mess continue to unfold. Yet two years later, the shortlist has been praised for its variety, and its integrity for taking in all factors; from gender, to nationality to literary merit.
Now a new controversy has been set a flame. The Booker Prize, which has been exclusively, awarded to a novel from the UK, Commonwealth countries, as well as Ireland and Zimbabwe; is now opening its doors, to any, English language publication (as long as it has been published in the UK). In other words, the prize is now open to include American authors. This has people dived straight down the middle. Some claim that the Booker Prize can now truly live up to its horn tooting “most important literary award in English-Speaking world.” Others however call it a complete and utter mistake; that has doomed the integrity of the Booker Prize.
It is hard not to see the future of the Booker Prize being dominated by American literature. Not by America’s literary taste, but simply because America has a vast quantity, of books published, and would flex that economic-super power muscle; dominating the newly revised prize. Just look at previous awards: The former Orange Prize, now Women’s Prize for Fiction, the winners has been dominated by American authors. The Man Booker Prize international has been awarded twice in a row to American authors. This is not, The Russian Booker Prize, or the German Book Prize, or the Man Asian Literary Prize, nor is it the Camões Prize, or Miguel de Cervantes Prize, or the Akutagawa Prize. This is the Booker Prize. The very prize, that has taken the place of the Commonwealth Writers Prize. Yet now it might as well be called the Pulitzer Version 2.0.
The Booker Prize is a crowded horse race as it is. Now it is far more crowded, the possibility of the judges reading, all nominated novels is now, certainly impossible. Now what it comes down to, is what novels are going to be overlooked, by the sheer quantity of the novels, and prize going to well established writers. The fact is, this ‘makeover,’ comes over, on attempt at showing that English speaking countries, are a bit more international, then they are given credit for. It’s an attempt rivalling other prizes; and being a bit more international. Still the feeling is, that the Booker is losing its own credibility. It’s now just become a glorified game of literary bingo, if you win you win, hip hip hurray. Though it’s too early to see how this new format, will change the prize itself, it does leave one feeling a bit on the uneasy side. As if this is just an attempt, at more favourable marketing, in a changing globalised world.
The entire, change however, comes in an interesting time, as the literary world is shifting. Publishers are leery of publishing. Writers are self-publishing – for free; if it’s popular with the reading public, then it’ll be considered to be published by an actual publisher. Literary merit is on the decline. Libraries are shutting down. Google’s prospect of claiming copy-right of out of print books. In fact the ‘profession,’ of writer may as be called a thankless hobby at best. Prizes like The Booker Prize, and other awards, are trying to stay afloat. One can only wait and see if the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize, will take the same route – if they take the same route.
For further reading:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2013/sep/18/booker-prize-us-writers-end
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/18/man-booker-prize-allow-us-american-entries
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2011/jun/30/booker-prize-international-embarrassment
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and Wrong.*
M. Mary
