Pullman heads up Booker shortlist

Philip Pullman, John Le Carre and Rohinton Mistry have made it on to the shortlist for this year’s Man Booker International Prize.

The list features 13 writers from eight countries including China, which is represented for the first time.

The prize is awarded every two years to a living author whose work has been published in English or widely translated into English.

Judge Rick Gekoski said the list was “diverse, fresh and thought-provoking”.

The winner, who will pick up a £60,000 prize, will be announced at the Sydney Writers’ Festival on 18 May.

Pullman is best known for His Dark Materials trilogy, which has won numerous prizes including the Carnegie Medal.

Le Carre’s novels include The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, The Tailor of Panama and The Constant Gardener.

The winner is chosen solely by the judging panel – there are no submissions from publishers.

Ismail Kadare won the inaugural prize in 2005, followed by Chinua Achebe in 2007 and Alice Munro in 2009.

An awards ceremony will take place for this year’s recipient in London on 28 June.