Continue on TOI App

The International Booker Prize winners till date

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Jun 3, 2021, 17:40 IST

1/13

The International Booker Prize winners till date

The International Booker Prize (previously known as the Man Booker International Prize) was started in 2005 as a segment of the original Booker Prize (earlier known as the Man Booker Prize). Since then, a literary award has been conferred biannually till 2015, and annually thereafter, to the most celebrated authors around the world for their original contribution in the field of fictional literature that has been initially published in a language other than English. Below is a list of the authors conferred with this literary award and their notable pieces of fiction for you to read.

2/13

2021: David Diop - France

French writer David Diop won the International Booker Prize 2021 for his book 'At Night All Blood is Black', which is translated into English by Anna Moschovakis. 'At Night All Blood is Black' is a harrowing yet poetic story of friendship, colonialism and terrors of wars. Set during World War 1, the story follows two Senegalese soldiers Alfa and Mademba, who are fighting in the Great War against France's German enemies. When Mademba dies in the war, Alfa devotes himself to the violence and war to avenge his friend's death but he soon starts fearing his own comrades. The book was published in French in 2018. Diop is the first French author to win the International Booker Prize. Lucy Hughes-Hallett, Chair of Judges and British author, called the book "hypnotically compelling", "entering the reader's consciousness at a level that bypasses rationality and transcends the subject matter." She further said, "You have to read this book and you will come away from it changed."

Photo: Pushkin Press/ Twitter

3/13

2020: Marieke Lucas Rijneveld - Netherlands

Dutch author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (on the left in pic) became the youngest author to win the Booker International Prize at the age of 29. Rijneveld, who prefers they or them pronouns for their non-binary identity, won the Booker International Prize 2020 for their debut novel 'The Discomfort of Evening'. Originally published in Dutch in 2018, the book is translated into English by Michele Hutchison. Set in rural Netherlands of the early 2000s, 'The Discomfort of Evening' follows the story of a young girl Jas (aged 10) as she loses her older brother in an accident. The grief of the sudden death is so brutal that her family slowly disintegrates. While her parents become distant and depressed, her other siblings are left on their own to explore life and sexuality as they approach puberty. Meanwhile, Jas' growing curiosity leads to her increasingly disturbing fantasies. The book is inspired from the author's own experience of losing a brother when she was quite young. 'The Discomfort of Evening' is a bestseller in the Netherlands and it is also being translated into other languages. While 'The Discomfort of Evening' is Rijneveld's first novel, they have also written two poetry collections previously.

4/13

2019: Jokha Alharthi- Oman

Jokha Alharthi from Oman won the Man Booker International Prize in 2019, making her the first Arabic-language writer to win the prestigious award. Alharthi won the 2019 Man Booker International Prize for her novel "Celestial Bodies", which is translated to English by Marilyn Booth. Alharthi has written two novels, two short-story collections and a children’s book besides "Celestial Bodies", which is originally written in Arabic. The book is about three sisters living in a rapidly changing Oman. One marries for duty, the other one marries into a wealthy family after having a heart break and the last one saves herself for love. As we follow their lives, we see Oman change, shaking off its colonial shackles and move into the modern era.
(Photo: ManBookerPrize/Facebook; Simon & Schuster India)

5/13

2018: Olga Tokarczuk- Poland

Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk’s novel "Flights" won the 2018 Man Booker International Prize, making her the first author from Poland to win the prestigious literary award. A bestselling author and recipient of various awards in Poland, Tokarczuk is a trained psychologist at the University of Warsaw. Her debut book, a collection of poems, was published in the year 1989. She has written eight novels and two short-story collections so far. "Flights" is Tokarczuk's third work to be translated into English by Jennifer Croft and is published by Fitzcarraldo Editions. The novel interlinks various travel narratives-- from 17th century to the present day scenario-- while exploring ideas about the human body, life, death, motion, and migration.

(Photo: The Man Booker Prize)

6/13

2017: David Grossman - Israel

David Grossman’s “A Horse Walks Into a Bar” has won the 2017 Man Booker International Prize. The book has been translated by British-Israeli-American translator Jessica Cohen. Grossman is a literary big shot in Israel and the Man Booker International Prize gave him recognition globally. “A Horse Walks Into a Bar” is set in the backdrop of Israel that is a freshly out of the terrifying Holocaust. The story revolves around a comedian Dov Greenstein, who is doing a prime time show for stand up comedy. Sitting in the audience, is Avishai Lazar, a district court judge, who knew Dov as a kid. The book takes us into Dov’s horrifying past of his struggles with his dysfunctional family, his years as a bullied kid and an exceptionally awkward teenage fuelled by his bitter experiences and finally his encounter with the indescribable at a military camp for youth, which is a past shared by Lazar and Dov both. As the story haunts Lazar in queer ways, Dov mesmerises his audience with his humorous banter that is loaded with darkness and murk. “A Horse Walks Into a Bar” takes us into this strange journey where humour is a result of agony and teaches us how profound is a relatable humour’s connection with our own sufferings.
The 2017 Man Booker International Prize jury describes “A Horse Walks Into a Bar” in the following way “The book shines a spotlight on the effects of grief, without any hint of sentimentality. The central character is challenging and flawed, but completely compelling..Every sentence counts, every word matters in this supreme example of the writer’s craft.”

7/13

2016: Han Kang - South Korea

Han Kang from South Korea won the Man Booker International Prize 2016 for her 2007 novel “The Vegetarian”. The judges summed up her winning in a profound and brief statement “This book will stay with you for a very long time indeed. As long, I suspect, as your reading life itself.”. “The Vegetarian” has been translated by British translator Deborah Smith. It is a moving tale about Yeong-hye, the protagonist lady, who after witnessing a series of nightmares filled with blood and barbarous flashes, decides to embrace absolute vegetarianism. Her decision invites criticism and affects her relations with her close ones including her husband as eating meat has been a staple diet for her country of origin. She suffers numerous backlashes from her relatives, both physical and mental. “The Vegetarianism” describes the gruesome journey of how far would Yeong-hye go to defend her resolution that has gained an unimpeachable place in her heart.

8/13

2015: László Krasznahorkai - Hungary

László Krasznahorkai is a revered name in the Hungarian literary world and has gained popularity worldwide after receiving Man Booker International 2015. Some of his well known works of literature that finally paved the way for his Man Booker International award were “Satantango” (1985), “The Melancholy of Resistance” (1993) and “Seiobo” (2008). Most of his work has been primarily translated by George Szirtes and Ottilie Mulzet, both of Hungarian origin.Talking about Krasznahorkai’s literary work, the jury members of 2015 Man Booker International Prize said “Laszlo Krasznahorkai is a visionary writer of extraordinary intensity and vocal range who captures the texture of present day existence in scenes that are terrifying, strange, appallingly comic, and often shatteringly beautiful.”

9/13

2013: Lydia Davis- USA

The fifth Man Booker International Prize winner Lydia Davis is a well liked Flash Fiction writer and a famous translator of French literature and philosophy. Her original works include “The Thirteenth Woman and Other Stories” (1976), “The End of the Story” (1995), “Break It Down” (1986), “Varieties of Disturbance” (2007), “Can't and Won't” (2013) and “The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis” (2009).

10/13

2011: Philip Roth - USA

Philip Roth is a novelist who gained widespread criticism for his humour laden suggestive literary produce. Nevertheless, he is also one of the most extensively read authors in USA and worldwide despite of being targeted for his sexually provocative works. Some of Roth’s best selling work include “Portnoy's Complaint” (1969), “The Human Stain” (2000), “American Pastoral” (1997) and “I Married a Communist” (1998). The judges for the 2011 prize remarked "For more than 50 years Philip Roth's books have stimulated, provoked and amused an enormous, and still expanding, audience. His imagination has not only recast our idea of Jewish identity, it has also reanimated fiction, and not just American fiction, generally...Indeed, his most recent, “Nemesis” (2010), is as fresh, memorable, and alive with feeling as anything he has written. His is an astonishing achievement."

11/13

2009: Alice Munro - Canada

Prominent Canadian writer Alice Munro is popular for her short story works. She won the 2009 chapter of Man Booker International for her literary body of work. The judges for the year 2009 quoted her as following: "To read Alice Munro is to learn something every time that you never thought of before." Some of her well known literary works include “Dance of the Happy Shades” (1968), “Lives of Girls and Women” (1971), “The Beggar Maid” (1980) and “Too Much Happiness” (2009).

12/13

2007: Chinua Achebe - Nigeria

Chinua Achebe is the pioneer of modern African literature and has subtly been the voice of an ordinary citizens of Africa. His work majorly consists of local African folktales being the central theme of his writing. His first official literary work, “Things Fall Apart” (1958), is still considered his best work and an extensively read novel in the African continent. Panelists of 2007 Man Booker International talk about him as having "illuminated the path for writers around the world seeking new words and forms for new realities and societies"; and as an achiever of "what one of his characters brilliantly defines as the writer's purpose: 'a new-found utterance' for the capture of life's complexity”

13/13

2005: Ismail Kadare - Albania

Considered as one of the most celebrated authors of Albania, Ismail Kadare has produced some scintillating work in the areas of novel writing, poetry , essay writing, and playwriting. He won the opening Man Booker International prize in 2005 for his literary body of work. He stuck to poetry exclusively until his first novel “The General of the Dead Army” was published in 1963 that helped him earn international acclaim. Some of his best known works include his first novel, “The General of the Dead Army” (1963), “The Siege” (1970), “The Ghost Rider” (1980), “Broken April” (1980), “The Palace of Dreams” (1981), “The Pyramid” (2003) and “The Successor” (2003). Most of his work has been translated into English by David Bellos.

Start a Conversation

Post comment

Featured In lifestyle

Photostories

Explore more Stories

Up Next

Your Privacy is Important to us

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

Follow Us On

The International Booker Prize winners till date