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First-time novelist wins Booker | First-time novelist wins Booker |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Aravind Adiga has won this year's Man Booker Prize with his debut novel The White Tiger. | Aravind Adiga has won this year's Man Booker Prize with his debut novel The White Tiger. |
The 33-year-old Indian-born writer was also the youngest author on the shortlist. | The 33-year-old Indian-born writer was also the youngest author on the shortlist. |
He beat favourite Sebastian Barry to take the £50,000 prize. The other contenders were Amitav Ghosh, Steve Toltz, Linda Grant and Philip Hensher. | He beat favourite Sebastian Barry to take the £50,000 prize. The other contenders were Amitav Ghosh, Steve Toltz, Linda Grant and Philip Hensher. |
Chairman of the judges, former politician Michael Portillo, said: "In many ways it was the perfect novel." | Chairman of the judges, former politician Michael Portillo, said: "In many ways it was the perfect novel." |
The White Tiger, a tale of two Indias, tells the story of Balram, the son of a rickshaw puller in the heartlands, one of the "faceless" poor left behind by the country's recent economic boom. | The White Tiger, a tale of two Indias, tells the story of Balram, the son of a rickshaw puller in the heartlands, one of the "faceless" poor left behind by the country's recent economic boom. |
It charts his journey from working in a teashop to entrepreneurial success. | It charts his journey from working in a teashop to entrepreneurial success. |
Announcing the winner at a ceremony in London, Mr Portillo said: "My criteria were 'Does it knock my socks off?' and this one did ... the others impressed me ... this one knocked my socks off." | Announcing the winner at a ceremony in London, Mr Portillo said: "My criteria were 'Does it knock my socks off?' and this one did ... the others impressed me ... this one knocked my socks off." |
Aravind Adiga on winning the Man Booker prize for The White Tiger | |
Mr Portillo said what set the book apart was its originality in showing "the dark side of India". | Mr Portillo said what set the book apart was its originality in showing "the dark side of India". |
He said: "The novel is in many ways perfect. It is quite difficult to find any structural flaws with it." | He said: "The novel is in many ways perfect. It is quite difficult to find any structural flaws with it." |
There were more than two contenders for the prize on the shortlist, but the winner was "absolutely not a compromise", Mr Portillo added. | There were more than two contenders for the prize on the shortlist, but the winner was "absolutely not a compromise", Mr Portillo added. |
"There really was a decision. The judges were asked to express their satisfaction and they all did." | "There really was a decision. The judges were asked to express their satisfaction and they all did." |
The five other shortlisted authors can also expect a rise in sales | |
Adiga is the third first-time novelist to win the prize. Previous debut winners were Arundhati Roy in 1997 for God of Small Things and DBC Pierre in 2003 for Vernon God Little. | Adiga is the third first-time novelist to win the prize. Previous debut winners were Arundhati Roy in 1997 for God of Small Things and DBC Pierre in 2003 for Vernon God Little. |
Adiga is a former correspondent for Time magazine and has written for the Independent, and the Sunday Times. | Adiga is a former correspondent for Time magazine and has written for the Independent, and the Sunday Times. |
The win means he can expect an upturn in sales and added recognition. | The win means he can expect an upturn in sales and added recognition. |
According to Amazon.co.uk, the six books enjoyed average sales rises of 700% following the announcement of the shortlist last month. | According to Amazon.co.uk, the six books enjoyed average sales rises of 700% following the announcement of the shortlist last month. |
Booksellers Foyles said it was a "very exciting winner for bookshops" adding it could prove as popular as The Life of Pi, the Bookerâs bestselling winner. | Booksellers Foyles said it was a "very exciting winner for bookshops" adding it could prove as popular as The Life of Pi, the Bookerâs bestselling winner. |
When asked if the win was important to him, Adiga told the BBC: "It is important to my publishers, so what's important to them is important to me." | When asked if the win was important to him, Adiga told the BBC: "It is important to my publishers, so what's important to them is important to me." |
Adiga, who had been given odds of 7/1 to win before the ceremony, dedicated the award to "the people of New Delhi". | Adiga, who had been given odds of 7/1 to win before the ceremony, dedicated the award to "the people of New Delhi". |
Irish writer Barry had been tipped to take the prize at 7/4 by bookmakers William Hill. | Irish writer Barry had been tipped to take the prize at 7/4 by bookmakers William Hill. |
The bookmakers' favourite has not won since Yann Martel in 2002. | The bookmakers' favourite has not won since Yann Martel in 2002. |
Of the six authors in contention for this year's Man Booker, only Barry had ever been shortlisted in the past - in 2005 for A Long Long Way. | Of the six authors in contention for this year's Man Booker, only Barry had ever been shortlisted in the past - in 2005 for A Long Long Way. |
Grant and Hensher had both previously been longlisted. | Grant and Hensher had both previously been longlisted. |
The award, which honours the best fiction written in English by an author from the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth, was handed out at the Guildhall in London on Tuesday. | The award, which honours the best fiction written in English by an author from the UK, Ireland or the Commonwealth, was handed out at the Guildhall in London on Tuesday. |