Booker Prize 2018: All About Northern Irish Author Anna Burns And Novel ‘Milkman’

Booker Prize 2018: The chair of the 2018 judging panel said "Anna Burns’ utterly distinctive voice challenges conventional thinking and form in surprising and immersive prose."

56-year-old Burns, who was born in Belfast, lives in East Sussex in England./ AFP IMAGE

LONDON: Author Anna Burns on Tuesday won the renowned Man Booker Prize for her novel "Milkman" and became the first Northern Irish writer, and the first woman since 2013. “None of us has ever read anything like this before. Anna Burns’ utterly distinctive voice challenges conventional thinking and form in surprising and immersive prose,” said Kwame Anthony Appiah, the chair of the 2018 judging panel.

Booker Prize 2018

1. This novel is Anna’s third full-length novel and the recipient of the Man Booker Prize gets 52,500 pounds (USD 69,223 or Rs 50.85 lakh).
2. The story of the novel is set in an unnamed city during the bloody "Troubles" of Northern Ireland, which tells the coming-of-age story of a young girl's affair with an older man.
3. Set in an unnamed city, ‘Milkman’ focuses on a “middle sister” as she navigates her way through rumour, social pressures and politics in a tight-knit community.
4. 56-year-old Burns, who was born in Belfast, lives in East Sussex in England.
5. She is the 17th woman to bag the award in its 49-year history and the first woman since 2013.
6. Her novel beat competition from ‘Everything Under’ by Daisy Johnson, who, at 27, was the youngest nominee in the Man Booker prize history.

The other nominees were ‘The Long Take’ by Robin Robertson, ‘Washington Black’ by Esi Edugyan, ‘The Mars Room’ by Rachel Kushner, and ‘The Overstory’ by Richard Powers. ‘Milkman’ is published by Faber & Faber, making it the fourth consecutive year the prize has been won by an independent publisher. Burns’ win was announced by Kwame Anthony Appiah at a dinner at London’s Guildhall. She was presented with a trophy by Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and a 50,000 pounds cheque by Luke Ellis, Chief Executive of Man Group.