Written by The literary world is abuzz with excitement as the longlist for the Booker Prize 2023, one of the most prestigious awards for fiction, is unveiled. The Booker Dozen, a collection of thirteen outstanding works of fiction, showcases the diversity and richness of storytelling that spans universal and timely themes. This year’s selection, chosen by a panel of esteemed judges led by Esi Edugyan, promises to leave readers enchanted, enlightened, and moved by the power of words.
From deeply emotional personal stories to captivating family sagas, the longlist casts a wide net over the human experience. Themes as relevant as climate change, oppression of minorities, scientific breakthroughs, and competitive sports find their place among these literary treasures. The 163 novels under scrutiny transported the judges to different corners of the world, offering unique perspectives on existence and challenging the boundaries of language and form.
The lineup introduces ten debut novelists, four of whom are presenting their maiden literary voyage to the world. Their fresh voices and fearless storytelling have left a lasting impression on the judges, signaling a promising future for the literary landscape. Additionally, three writers with seven prior nominations amongst them have returned with yet more compelling works.
Hailing from seven countries across four continents, these authors represent a true global narrative, showcasing the power of literature to transcend borders and cultures. Ireland shines brightly this year with four of its talented writers making up a third of the longlist, highlighting the country’s rich literary tradition.
Among the noteworthy inclusions is a novel featuring a neurodiverse protagonist, drawing from the author’s personal experiences. This insightful portrayal brings much-needed representation to the forefront, emphasizing the importance of diverse voices in literature.
The Chair of the judging panel, Esi Edugyan, shared her enthusiasm for the longlist, emphasizing the freshness and innovation brought forth by new and established authors alike. The novels present startling portraits of contemporary life, each one a small revolution in its own right, energizing and awakening the language.
The Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, Gaby Wood, expressed pride in the judges’ pursuit of novels that not only advance the literary form but also offer insights into the world we inhabit. The selected books promise to have a lasting impact on readers, leaving a lasting impression and drawing them back for re-reads.
Here’s the Booker Prize 2023 Longlist:
A Spell of Good Things, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
A Spell of Good Things is an examination of class and desire in modern-day Nigeria. While Eniola’s poverty prevents him from getting the education he desperately wants, Wuraola finds that wealth is no barrier against life’s harsher realities. A powerful, staggering read.
Old God’s Time, Sebastian Barry
A murder investigation leads a retired policeman to confront the loss and sorrow of his past. Barry brilliantly evokes the distorting effect of trauma on memory as we enter an easy companionship with his gentle, funny protagonist. Both the legacy of historic child abuse in Ireland and the enduring power of love are sensitively explored in this compassionate and quietly furious book.
Study for Obedience, Sarah Bernstein
Study for Obedience is an absurdist, darkly funny novel about the rise of xenophobia, as seen through the eyes of a stranger in an unnamed town – or is it? Bernstein’s urgent, limpid prose upsets all our expectations, and what transpires is a meditation on survival itself.
If I Survive You, Jonathan Escoffery
An astonishingly assured debut novel from Jonathan Escoffery, lauded by the panel for its clarity, variety and fizzing prose. Jamaican husband and wife Topper and Santa flee from the troubles of their 1970s Caribbean home to make a new life in Miami with their sons Delano and Trelawney. In the remorseless, laugh-out-loud code switching of the recently arrived, they attempt to survive America and each other, as the reader is confronted with the immigrants’ eternal questions: who am I now and where do I belong?
How to Build a Boat, Elaine Feeney
The interweaving stories of Jamie, a teenage boy trying to make sense of the world, and Tess, a teacher at his school, make up this humorous and insightful novel about family and the need for connection. Feeney has written an absorbing coming-of-age story which also explores the restrictions of class and education in a small community. A complex and genuinely moving novel.
This Other Eden, Paul Harding
Based on a relatively unknown true story, Paul Harding’s heartbreakingly beautiful paean to Apple Island, off the coast of Maine, transports us to the unique tiny community scrabbling a living there – descended from trafficked Africans, immigrant Irish and indigenous Penobscot. The arrival of a well-intentioned though racist preacher brings with it the unwelcome attention of 19th century America, with inevitably disastrous results. The judges were moved by the delicate symphony of language, land and narrative that Harding brings to bear on the story of the islanders.
Pearl, Siân Hughes
Pearl, by Siân Hughes, an exceptional debut novel, is both a mystery story and a meditation on grief, abandonment and consolation, evoking the profundities of the haunting medieval poem, ‘Pearl’. The degree of difficulty in writing a book of this sort—at once quiet and hugely ambitious—is very high. It’s a book that will be passed from hand to hand for a long time to come.
All the Little Bird-Hearts, Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
Written from the perspective of an autistic mother, All the Little Bird-Hearts is a poetic debut which masterfully intertwines themes of familial love, friendship, class, prejudice and trauma with psychological acuity and wit.
Prophet Song, Paul Lynch
Paul Lynch’s harrowing and dystopian Prophet Song vividly renders a mother’s determination to protect her family as Ireland’s liberal democracy slides inexorably and terrifyingly into totalitarianism. Readers will find it timely and unforgettable. It’s a remarkable accomplishment for a novelist to capture the social and political anxieties of our moment so compellingly.
In Ascension, Martin MacInnes
In this strange and wonderful world, every outward journey – whether to space or the depths of the ocean – is an inward one, as Leigh seeks to move beyond her troubled childhood. In Ascension is a Solaris for the climate-change age.
Western Lane, Chetna Maroo
Skilfully deploying the sport of squash as both context and metaphor, Western Lane is a deeply evocative debut about a family grappling with grief, conveyed through crystalline language which reverberates like the sound ‘of a ball hit clean and hard…with a close echo’.
The Bee Sting, Paul Murray
Paul Murray’s saga, The Bee Sting, set in the Irish Midlands, brilliantly explores how our secrets and self-deceptions ultimately catch up with us. This family drama, told from multiple perspectives, is at once hilarious and heartbreaking, personal and epic. It’s an addictive read.
The House of Doors, Tan Twan Eng
Drawing on the life and writing of Somerset Maugham, The House of Doors is a magisterial and haunting tale of forbidden love and loss in the shadow of revolution and empire. This is historical fiction at its finest.
Delving into the longlist, several authors stand out for their remarkable achievements. Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, a Nigerian writer, brings us “A Spell of Good Things,” while Irish writer Sebastian Barry’s “Old God’s Time” further solidifies his place among celebrated Booker authors. Canadian writer Sarah Bernstein’s “Study for Obedience” showcases her talent, while Jonathan Escoffery’s “If I Survive You” marks a promising debut.
The longlist also includes Paul Murray, who previously graced the list in 2010, and Tan Twan Eng, who adds another nomination to his illustrious Booker history. Martin MacInnes joins the ranks of celebrated Scottish authors recognized by the prize.
In this list, we find a myriad of experiences, from historical events to contemporary issues. Some novels take inspiration from literary history, drawing on poems, plays, and true stories to weave their narratives. Poets-turned-novelists Elaine Feeney, Sarah Bernstein, and Siân Hughes showcase their versatility in crossing genres.
As the literary world awaits the shortlist announcement, these thirteen novels have already captured the hearts and minds of readers. They serve as a testament to the enduring power of fiction and its ability to challenge, delight, and inspire. The 2023 Booker Prize longlist promises an enriching literary journey, celebrating the brilliance of both new and established voices, and offering profound insights into the human experience.
About the Booker Prize
The Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world. It was founded in 1969 and is awarded annually to a novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland. The winner receives a prize of £50,000.
The Booker Prize has been won by some of the most celebrated authors in the world, including Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, and Kazuo Ishiguro.
The Booker Prize is a significant literary prize, and its longlist and shortlist are often seen as a barometer of the best fiction being published in the world. The 2023 longlist is no exception, and it features a diverse range of novels that are sure to spark discussion and debate.
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