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Princess Elizabeth reading a book in Buckingham Palace on July 19, 1946
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The Big Jubilee Read: 21 Booker books to celebrate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II

In summer 2022, the Reading Agency and BBC Arts teamed up for the Big Jubilee Read - a list of 70 books by Commonwealth authors, with 10 from each decade of the Queen’s reign. Below, find out more about the authors and books on the list who are part of the Booker family

The Big Jubilee Read campaign emphasised reading for pleasure, with one book chosen for each year of the Queen’s reign, featuring writers from across the Commonwealth.

Suzy Klein, head of arts and classical music TV at the BBC, said: ‘The list of 70 books is a real opportunity to discover stories from across continents and taking us through the decades, books that we might never have otherwise read, and reading authors whose work deserves a spotlight to be shone on it.’

There are 21 Booker Prize winning, shortlisted and longlisted novels on the list, and a total of 31 authors from the Booker family, including past judges as well as nominated writers.

Main photograph © Lisa Sheridan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Read our features on the Big Jubilee Read authors

The Big Jubilee Read books from the Booker Library

Disgrace
Prize winner

Disgrace

by J.M. Coetzee (prize winner)

Wolf Hall
Prize winner

Wolf Hall

by Hilary Mantel (prize winner)

Get to know the authors

Watch videos

Damon Galgut wins the 2021 Booker Prize

The moment Damon Galgut wins the 2021 Booker Prize.

Anuk Arudpragasam reads from 'A Passage North'

 

Booker Prize-shortlisted author Anuk Arudpragasm reads from ‘A Passage North’.

An interview with Thomas Keneally | The Booker Prize

The Booker Prize 2019 - Full Ceremony

The 2019 Booker Prize ceremony, where the prize was shared by Bernardine Evaristo and Margaret Atwood.

Booker Prize 1985 full ceremony

Watch the full Channel 4 broadcast of the controversial 1985 Booker Prize ceremony, including interviews with the shortlisted authors and the deeply divided judges.

Thomas Keneally Wins The Booker Prize with Schindler's Ark (1982) | The Booker Prize

Watch the moment Thomas Keneally’s Schindler’s Ark is announced as the 1982 Booker Prize-winning book.

The Booker Prize 2002 - Full Ceremony | The Booker Prize

The Booker Prize 2020 - Full Ceremony | The Booker Prize

Watch the 2020 Booker Prize ceremony, in which Douglas Stuart wins the prize with his book, Shuggie Bain.

The Booker Prize 1992 - Full Ceremony | The Booker Prizes

The full ceremony from 1992, in which Michael Ondaatje wins the prize with The English Patient.

The Booker Prize 2013 - Full Ceremony | The Booker Prizes

Hilary Mantel's acceptance speech, after winning the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2009

Watch Hilary Mantel’s acceptance speech on winning the Man Booker Prize in 2009 for Wolf Hall.