The Booker Prize Winner(s) for 2019

Hello Gentle Reader

This year’s Booker Prize has gone to two writers:

Margaret Atwood for her novel: “The Testaments,”

Bernardine Evaristo for her novel: “Girl, Woman, Other,”

The decision has been described as defiant, where the judges have explicitly rewritten (or rather broken) the rules to appease themselves. The Booker Foundations literary director has already clarified this decision is not precedence setting. Despite this, in its early years, the Booker Prize could be shared between writers, and was. In nineteen seventy-four, the award was shared between Nadine Gordimer and Stanley Middleton, and in nineteen ninety-two the award was shared between Michael Ondaatje and Barry Unsworth. After nineteen ninety-two, however, the award amended its criteria, stating only one writer was eligible to receive the award; at least, until now.

The decision has been lukewarmly received. In winning the award, Margaret Atwood ticks a few boxes off the list:

(i)                 She is the oldest recipient of the Booker Prize at 79.

(ii)               She is the fourth writer to receive the Booker Prize twice. Other writers include:

                                                              i.      J.M. Coetzee (1983, 1999)

                                                            ii.      Peter Carey (1988, 2001)

                                                          iii.      Hilary Mantel (2009, 2012)

Bernardine Evaristo ticks her own boxes in winning the award. She is the first black female writer to receive the award.

The decision has been called divisive, and a bit like cheating. The Booker Prize judges have the ability award one author; but in this case they took not only their piece of cake, but a second helping along with it. The decision has no potency. It is not poignant. It’s an attempt at appeasement, with no real conviction. The entire decision comes across as being sanctimonious; and nothing is worst then the moral gloating of others.

Bernardine Evaristo and Margaret Atwood have been polite in the decision. The predicament is awkward. Journalists have pushed both authors in the split decision. Atwood has stated she is happy to share the award, stating it would be awkward not to award a more deserving writer early in their career, while she is in the final trek; while Bernardine Evaristo did not deny she would have preferred to win it on her own, but at least has great company.

The decision to award the Booker Prize to both authors is a generous one, just with high riding morally superior attitude.

Congratulations to Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo! It’s certainly a unique award.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well Read

M. Mary