The prognosis is grave for the Booker Prize, say more than a few literary commentators in response to the news that a cabal of publishers, authors and agents plan to establish a “well-funded prize” that would have a “different set of priorities” to the Booker. For different “set of priorities”, read “high-brow”; the prize may also be open to American authors. Spokesman for the nascent Literature Prize, Andrew Kidd, told the Bookseller that the prize would:
‘establish a clear and uncompromising standard of excellence…For many years this brief was fulfilled by the Booker (latterly the Man Booker) Prize. But as numerous statements by that prize’s administrator and this year’s judges illustrate, it now prioritises a notion of ‘readability’ over artistic achievement…This will be a prize chosen by experts—writers, professional critics, people immersed in literature. There are so many books out there and everyone is looking for guidance. People like to know they have been judged by experts—otherwise it would be like the gymnastics at the Olympics being judged by you or me. The Literature Prize will have different parameters from the Booker and we hope they can happily co-exist.’
Kidd stresses that he and his friends are not “trying to do the Booker down”, but today’s announcement comes just five days before the Booker awards ceremony, and so might be seen as an ambush.
Over at the Guardian, Robert McCrum returns to his favourite patch of turf: predicting the Booker’s demise. He says that the Literature Prize is the latest ailment to befall the sickly institution. He then relates how the Beryl Booker and the International Booker were publicity stunts that ended in debacle, cheapening the organisation’s reputation. He also touches on this year’s shortlist, which was ill-received by the trade.
McCrum reserves his most special and rare scorn for the Booker’s management. With raging elan, he describes Chairman Jonathan Taylor (pictured above in Man of the People mode) as the “deluded” custodian of a bad gentleman’s club. He calls for immediate root and branch reform.
Away from the savage newspaper columns, details of the proposed Literature Prize are vague at this stage. An advisory panel will be unveiled in the next fortnight, when all will become clear.
Comments