Set in 1945, Michael Ondaatje’s brilliant and moving historical fiction has been translated into 40 languages and turned into an Oscar-winning film
The Golden Man Booker
The Golden Man Booker
To mark the 50th anniversary in 2018, The Booker Prize Foundation launched the Golden Man Booker Prize.
This was a special one-off award that crowned the best work of fiction from the last five decades of prize, as chosen by five judges and then voted for by the public. The Golden Man Booker put all 51 winners – all of which are still in print – back under the spotlight, to discover which of them has stood the test of time, remaining relevant to readers today. The five books, chosen by judges, were then put to a month-long public vote from 26 May to 25 June to decide the overall winner.
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje (Bloomsbury) was crowned the best work of fiction from the last five decades of the Man Booker Prize, announced on Sunday 8 July 2018. The Golden Man Booker winner was revealed at the closing event of the Man Booker 50 Festival in Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre.
Shortlist Judges
Five judges were appointed to read the winning novels from each decade of the prize: writer and editor Robert McCrum (1970s); poet Lemn Sissay MBE (1980s); novelist Kamila Shamsie (1990s); broadcaster and novelist Simon Mayo (2000s); and poet Hollie McNish (2010s).
Each judge chose what, in their own opinion, was the best winner from that particular decade, and championed that book against the other judges’ selections. The judges’ ‘Golden Five’ shortlist was announced at the Hay Festival on 26 May 2018, before being put to a month-long public vote to decide the overall winner.
One of the ‘Golden Five’ judges, Simon Mayo, with the shortlisted books for the Golden Man Booker Prize
Golden Man Booker videos
Above: A collection of clips including each decade’s judge speaking about their personal choice for the shortlist.
Right: Golden Man Booker-winning author Michael Ondaatje
Golden Man Booker Prize Winner
Golden Man Booker Prize Shortlist
Through five connected tales, V.S. Naipaul explores alienation, disruption and racial tension in a perilously unpredictable world
Penelope Lively’s timeless, Booker Prize-winning novel explores the shifting nature of reality and identity through the many lives of its narrator
Hilary Mantel’s truly great novel peels back history to explore the rich intersection of individual psychology and wider politics in Tudor England
Narrated by a chorus of voices, George Saunders’ startlingly original novel is a thrilling exploration of death, grief and the possibilities of life
The 50th anniversary of the prize was magnified globally with author events at international literary festivals across the world, and major festivals in the UK, including Hay Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival and Edinburgh International Book Festival amongst others.
Past winners of the prize were also invited to a very special reception at Buckingham Palace on 5th July 2018 to mark the occasion.