Famous Recipients on the Booker Prize List

The Booker Prize list consists of some of the worlds most prestigious fiction authors. The Booker Prize, also known as the Man Booker Prize, is awarded annually for the best fiction book written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland and published in the previous year.

The Booker Prize is sponsored by the Man Group plc, a worldwide investment management business established in 1783. The business also manages the Man Group plc Charitable Trust, a diversified charity that focuses largely on literacy. The first Booker Prize award was given to "Something to Answer For" by P H Newby in 1969 and has been awarded annually every year since.  

Booker Prize Rules
For a literary book to be eligible for a Booker Prize, it must be a full-length fiction novel and published commercially. Self-published books are not eligible. The author must be a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. The Commonwealth refers to a group of 53 states that work together towards democracy, peace and development. Members of the Commonwealth include Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Tonga, Nigeria and South Africa.

Booker Prize Winners

• "The White Tiger." The fastest-selling novel in Booker Prize history was the 2008 winner "The White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga. The tale is about a poor boy born in India. He is removed from school to work in a teashop to help support his family, but dreams of escape to a better life. Though he makes his escape, it's not with consequences. The tale is filled with wit, sarcasm and murder, detailing the struggle between India's poor and elite classes.
• "The Line of Beauty." "The Line of Beauty," by Alan Hollinghurst, won the Booker Prize in 2004 and went on to become one of the best-selling books of the year. Set in the greedy 1980s, the tale is about a young man who moves in with a wealthy family in London. He becomes caught up in a lavish lifestyle that brings into question the ruthless decadence of the decade.
• The English Patient. "The English Patient," by Michael Ondaatje, was tied for the Booker Prize with "Sacred Hunger" by Barry Unsworth in 1992. "The English Patient" is one of the best known Booker Prize winners, mostly because it was turned into an award-winning movie. The story is set in 1945 and tells the tale of three men and one woman who take refuge from the war in a villa. One of the men is a badly burned patient who unravels a powerful story filled with adventure and love.

• "The Remains of the Day." "The Remains of the Day," by Kazuo Ishiguro, won the Booker Prize in 1989. The book is best known for the popular "The Remains of the Day" movie it inspired. The tale revolves around a proper English butler's reflection on his past 30 years of service. His memories are filled with both resolve and doubt about his and his employer's overall character.