The International Booker Prize

Proving the rumors true, the Booker Prize committee has established a new prize that will–gasp!–be open to Americans:

The debate over the future of the Booker was opened in spring 2002 when, after a series of rumours that the prize – which is currently only open to Commonwealth writers – was going to be opened to American authors, the Man Booker advisory committee confirmed that a working party had been set up to look at possible extensions to the award.

The outcome of their deliberations is a biennial prize which will recognise one writer’s achievement in fiction. It will be open to any living author who has published fiction in English or whose work is generally available in translation in the English language and will be worth £60,000.

The first shortlist will be announced in January 2005, with the winner awarded some months later.