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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| First-timers seeking Booker glory | First-timers seeking Booker glory |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two first-time novelists have made the 2008 Booker Prize shortlist, while Sir Salman Rushdie, who was widely tipped for the award, failed to make the cut. | Two first-time novelists have made the 2008 Booker Prize shortlist, while Sir Salman Rushdie, who was widely tipped for the award, failed to make the cut. |
| Aravind Adiga and Steve Toltz are in the running for the prestigious prize with their maiden novels. | Aravind Adiga and Steve Toltz are in the running for the prestigious prize with their maiden novels. |
| Linda Grant is the only woman to make the list, along with former nominee Philip Hensher, Sebastian Barry and Indian writer Amitav Ghosh. | |
| The winning writer will be handed the £50,000 prize in London on 14 October. | The winning writer will be handed the £50,000 prize in London on 14 October. |
| Widely expected | Widely expected |
| Bookmakers William Hill have installed Barry as the favourite to win, with odds of 2/1. | |
| Michael Portillo, the Booker chair of judges, called the six final works "intensely readable", adding they are "extraordinary examples of imagination and narrative". BOOKER PRIZE - ODDS The White Tiger Aravind Adiga - 5/1The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry - 2/1The Sea of Poppies Amitav Ghosh - 7/1The Clothes on Their Backs Linda Grant - 4/1The Northern Clemency Philip Hensher - 8/1A Fraction of The Whole Steve Toltz - 3/1 Source: William Hill | |
| "These books are, in every case, both ambitious and approachable," he added. | |
| For the first time, extracts of each shortlisted novels will be available to download onto mobiles. | For the first time, extracts of each shortlisted novels will be available to download onto mobiles. |
| This year's shortlist contains writers from a broad geographical spread, with two Indian authors, two from the UK, one from Ireland and one from Australia. | This year's shortlist contains writers from a broad geographical spread, with two Indian authors, two from the UK, one from Ireland and one from Australia. |
| Indian first-time novelist Adiga is the youngest in the running at 34. | Indian first-time novelist Adiga is the youngest in the running at 34. |
| Hensher and Grant were both shortlisted in 2002, but failed to scoop the prize. | Hensher and Grant were both shortlisted in 2002, but failed to scoop the prize. |
| The winner can expect to receive added recognition and an upturn in sales. | The winner can expect to receive added recognition and an upturn in sales. |
| Sir Salman, who made the longlist with his novel The Enchantress of Florence, was widely expected to proceed to the shortlist. | Sir Salman, who made the longlist with his novel The Enchantress of Florence, was widely expected to proceed to the shortlist. |
| He first won in 1981 for his work Midnight's Children, which was named "Booker of Bookers" to mark the award's 40th anniversary earlier this year. | He first won in 1981 for his work Midnight's Children, which was named "Booker of Bookers" to mark the award's 40th anniversary earlier this year. |
| Midnight's Children also won a special award in 1993 for the literary prize's 25th anniversary. | Midnight's Children also won a special award in 1993 for the literary prize's 25th anniversary. |