Youngest Woman Booker prize winner
Kiran Desai "s THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS did all Indians proud by winning the prestigious literary award-The Booker Prize at the age of 35 .Anita won the 50,000 pound prize in her first attempt while her mom Anita Desai remained a three time nominee for the prize. Kiran's sweeping novel “The inheritance of Loss” is a heart stirring saga of a retired embittered judge living on the foothills of the Himalaya set against the backdrop of the Nepalese insurgency. The story finds immense resonance in the heart of every ordinary Indian family and its subtle, tender humour coupled with powerful political events leaves an indelible impression on the mind of every reader.
Desai, who constantly shuffles between her homes in New-York and India faced tough competition from a number of literary heavyweights like Sarah Waters' "The Night Watch," Edward St Aubyn's "Mother's Milk," Kate Grenville's "The Secret River," M.J. Hyland's "Carry Me Down" and Hisham Matar's "In the Country of Men."
Previous youngest Woman Booker prize winner
The previous youngest winner in the prestigious Booker list was India's Arundhati Roy who won the prize at 36 for her hugely popular book “God of Small Things”. Arundhati's masterpiece was a “paradigm of poetry in prose” and encapsulated life in God's own country- Kerala.
Youngest Booker prize winner
The youngest Booker prize winner however was Ben Okri a Nigerian poet and Novelist who swept the award at the mere age of 32 for his empowering work “The Famished Road” .His work popularized the concept of fantasy literature where he writes eloquently of the mundane and the metaphysical. This is the story of a script child who never loses sight of his spirit world.
Booker prize winner of all times:
Salman Rushdie was named the Booker prize winner of all time for his work “Midnight's Children” .Rushdie the popular favorite was chosen from a shortlist of six which included works by works by JM Coetzee, Nadine Gordimer, Pat Barker, Peter Carey and JG Farrell. This sprawling novel won the booker prize in1981 and the Booker of Bookers in 1993.
Booker Facts
The prize founded in 1969 recognizes and rewards writers from Britain, Ireland, South Africa or a Commonwealth country. The winner is assured instant fame and the “bestseller tag” around the globe. The award sponsored by the futures brokers Man group is also at times identified by the controversies it invariably stirs. A number of readers and writers unequivocally feel that the winner appeals only to the erudite, elite literary academicians.
So for all of you confused about what to read…. considering one of the above mentioned novels could be a great way to imbibe the aromas of the worlds best literary masterpieces. .Do take time out for it.
