Marlon James' 'Seven Killings' on longlist for Man Booker Prize
The longlist for one of the most prestigious literary awards was announced today, and Macalester College professor Marlon James made the cut.
The Man Booker Prize is awarded annually to an original novel, written in English and published in the United Kingdom. This is only the second year that writers of any nationality have been eligible for the award. Previously, only writers in the British Commonwealth were considered.
A panel of five judges considered 156 novels for the prize, and pared it down to the 13 on the longlist.
"A Brief History of Seven Killings" is James' third novel. James is a native of Jamaica, but currently teaches at Macalester in St. Paul. "Seven Killings" has already won an American Book Award and a Minnesota Book Award. The book has been optioned for a miniseries by HBO.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
2015 Man Booker Prize longlist
• Bill Clegg, "Did You Ever Have a Family" - United States
• Anne Enright, "The Green Road" - Ireland
• Marlon James - "A Brief History of Seven Killings" Jamaica
• Laila Lalami, "The Moor's Account" - United States
• Tom McCarthy, "Satin Island" - United Kingdom
• Chigozie Obioma, "The Fishermen" - Nigeria
• Andrew O'Hagan, "The Illuminations" - United Kingdom
• Marilynne Robinson, "Lila" - United States
• Anuradha Roy, "Sleeping on Jupiter" - India
• Sunjeev Sahota, "The Year of the Runaways" - United Kingdom
• Anna Smaill, "The Chimes" - New Zealand
• Anne Tyler, "A Spool of Blue Thread" - United States
• Hanya Yanagihara, "A Little Life" - United States
The judges will continue to narrow the field. The shortlist of 6 novels will be announced on Sept. 15, and the 2015 winner will be named at a gala in London on Oct. 13.