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In the world of the Booker Prizes this week: The 2023 shortlisted authors answer your burning questions; discover Iris Murdoch's best work; and join us at our latest events, in person and online
Watch our video Q&As with the Booker Prize 2023 shortlistees
As we approach this year’s Booker Prize winner ceremony, we have gathered your questions from social media and put them to our shortlisted authors – Paul Murray, Chetna Maroo, Paul Harding, Jonathan Escoffery and Paul Lynch. Here, they discuss their writing styles, favourite characters, and the inspiration behind their nominated works. (Sarah Bernstein’s interview will be published next week.)
The Booker Prize live! Dates for your diary
Join us as we celebrate the Booker Prize 2023 at these UK and online events.
Thursday, November 23, 7.30pm: Shortlist readings
An evening of readings with the shortlisted authors, chaired by novelist Sara Collins, will take place in the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre in London. Find out more here.
Friday, November 24, 2.30pm: The shortlisted authors talk to Gaby Wood
Join Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, at Hay Festival Winter Weekend as she speaks to the six authors shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize, just days before the winner is announced. Find out more here.
Sunday, November 26, 9pm: The Booker Prize 2023 livestream
YouTuber Jack Edwards will host the official livestream of the Booker Prize 2023 ceremony, which will be shown simultaneously on the Booker Prizes’ and Jack Edwards’ YouTube channels. The hour-long livestream, which will include interviews with special guests, will begin at 9pm UK time.
Tuesday, November 28, 5.45pm: Winner Q&A + paired film screening in partnership with MUBI
Join us at HOME in Manchester for a special event in partnership with MUBI – the global streaming service, production company and film distributor – for the first in-person Q&A with the winner of the Booker Prize 2023, chaired by writer Okechukwu Nzelu, followed by a screening of the film that MUBI has paired with this year’s winning novel. Find out more here.
Click here to see which films MUBI has matched to all six shortlisted books and to get 30 days of MUBI for free.
Wednesday, November 29, 6.45pm: Winner of the Booker Prize 2023 in conversation with Shehan Karunatilaka
The winner of this year’s prize will appear in conversation with last year’s winner, Shehan Karunatilaka, for an unmissable evening at Foyles Charing Cross Road in London hosted by broadcaster Anita Rani. A livestream ticket is also available for this event. Find out more here.
Where to start with Iris Murdoch: a guide to her best novels
Iris Murdoch wrote 26 novels, seven of which were nominated for a Booker Prize – including one winner – but with so many books to choose from, where should you start? As we celebrate The Black Prince as our Book of the Month, John Self selects some of Murdoch’s greatest works.
Reading Iris Murdoch is easy: you start by ignoring her reputation. At least this was my experience, having expected this high-minded philosopher-novelist’s books to be stodgy and remote, animated not by story or characters, but by ideas. This could not have been more wrong. Murdoch’s books are not worthy or dull in the least: dull is the opposite of what they are.
Her novels are clever, yes, and ambitious, yet they are not the opposite of popular fiction, but an elevation of it. Characters love and hate, are guilty and duplicitous, have secret sex while trying to be good: and all in a flurry of activity as their creator whisks them around the book like chess pieces on a board.
With a little over a week to go to the Booker Prize 2023 ceremony, we’d love to know which book and author is your favourite to take home the trophy. Let us know in the comments!
would you be able to write down the questions for the q and a videos to make them accessible to visually impaired booker fans?