Image of four of the 2009 Man Booker Prize for Fiction Judges

Man Booker judging panel prepares for 2009 reading

Bumper year for previous Booker winners and nominees

28 May 2009

This year's Man Booker Prize judging panel have begun the difficult task of having to read over a hundred novels before deciding on the Man Booker Dozen - a longlist of around 12 titles.

The panel will have to consider many novels submitted by publishers, as well as reading new titles from authors who are automatically eligible for the prize, having either won the prize before or having been previously nominated. 

Previously successful authors with new books out include Monica Ali, who was shortlisted for her novel Brick Lane in 2003. Her latest novel, In the Kitchen, has just been published by Transworld.

Sarah Waters, Kate Grenville and Maria Hyland, who were shortlisted together for the Man Booker Prize in 2006, all have new novels out this year. While Sarah Hall and Colm Tóibín, who came up against each other on the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize in 2004, will also both be eligible for the 2009 prize with their new titles.

In addition, several previous Booker winners have new novels out in 2009, including last year's winner Aravind Adiga, Margaret Atwood, John Banville, Anita Brookner, A S Byatt, Penelope Lively and Barry Unsworth. 

J M Coetzee, one of only two authors to have ever won the Booker Prize twice, also has a new novel out this year. 

The longlist will be announced on 28 July 2009.

The Man Booker Prize Fiction at its finest