The 2004 Booker Prize Winner

And the big shiny prize goes to Alan Hollinghurst for his much-acclaimed novel LINE OF BEAUTY. Although this seems to be considered an upset, really the prize was between David Mitchell, Hollinghurst and Colm Toibin, so it’s not that much of a surprise to me. And sure enough, the winner was the result of a split vote:

The panel, chaired by former Culture Secretary Chris Smith, deliberated for more than two hours over who should win the prestigious prize.

They were torn between three novels – The Line Of Beauty, Cloud Atlas and Colm Toibin’s The Master.

The winner was announced at a ceremony at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, central London.

“This was an incredibly difficult and close decision,” Mr Smith said.

“It has resulted in a winning novel that is exciting, brilliantly written and gets deep under the skin of the Thatcherite 80s.

“The search for love, sex and beauty is rarely this exquisitely done.”

A Man Booker Prize insider said: “It was a very difficult decision and ran very, very close. It was not unanimous. Everybody argued for their chosen book but there were no raised voices.”

Congratulations to the winner and to all the other nominees in what proved to be a very close Booker Prize.