The Booker Prize has garnered significant attention once again as David Szalay’s Flesh won this week, receiving near-unanimous acclaim, reports BritPanorama. However, the prize’s history is rife with controversies, often igniting debates among judges and critics alike.
Controversy is a recurring theme, with past winners prompting rows and public outcry. Judges have publicly clashed over their selections, authors have leveraged acceptance speeches for political statements, and debates have continued in both media and literary circles.
This article examines some of the most contentious winners in the award’s history, reflecting the often-divided opinions surrounding these literary accolades.
G by John Berger (1972)
John Berger’s novel G stands out as one of the award’s most original winners. The narrative follows the titular protagonist—a Casanova-like figure—through his various encounters and political awakenings. Berger’s acceptance speech was particularly notable, as he pledged to donate half of his prize money to the British Black Panthers, highlighting historical injustices tied to the prize’s sponsorship.
The Bone People by Keri Hulme (1985)
Winning in 1985, Keri Hulme’s The Bone People remains perhaps the most divisive choice. The complex tale involves a troubled artist, a mute child, and a violent foster parent, interweaving themes that some found difficult to digest. Critics, including judge Joanna Lumley, labeled some of the violent scenes as excessive, while supporters argued that such critiques reflected colonial biases. Despite its acclaim, Hulme did not publish another novel before her death in 2021.
How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman (1994)
In a book that begins with the protagonist waking up blind, James Kelman’s How Late It Was, How Late incited substantial backlash among judges—one even denounced it as “crap.” Critics derided its use of expletives and the Glaswegian dialect as “literary vandalism,” a stance that has since been reevaluated as a misunderstanding of Kelman’s literary contributions, akin to those of Joyce and Kafka.
Last Orders by Graham Swift (1996)
The 1996 award for Last Orders came with allegations of plagiarism from an academic, who argued that Graham Swift’s narrative style echoed William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying. Swift admitted to drawing “a little homage” from Faulkner, which led judge A.N. Wilson to express regret, suggesting that knowledge of the similarities might have altered the prize outcome.
Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre (2003)
DBC Pierre’s background was overshadowed by personal allegations of con artistry as he received the award for his debut, Vernon God Little. Weeks prior, reports surfaced detailing misconduct involving a real estate scam. Nonetheless, the novel, a satirical take on a high school shooting, captivated readers and critics alike, leading Pierre to promise restitution from his prize earnings.
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (2011)
When Julian Barnes won for The Sense of an Ending, critics were quick to label the selection as lacking depth compared to the shortlist alternatives, prompting accusations that his win resembled a lifetime achievement award. This perception heightened dissatisfaction around the judges’ decisions, particularly after the list was viewed as unremarkable upon reflection.
The Sellout by Paul Beatty (2016)
Paul Beatty’s victory in 2016 sparked concerns over the inclusion of American authors in the Booker Prize. His winning novel presented a sharp satirical edge on race relations in America, igniting discussions about literary diversity and representation within the prize framework.
Joint-winners Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo (2019)
In a significant break from tradition, 2019 saw joint winners Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo. This decision came under scrutiny, with allegations that Atwood’s selection was propelled by a judge’s threat to resign if she was not recognized again for The Testaments. While Evaristo became the first black woman to win, the shared award left a divisive impact on her triumph.
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (2023)
Paul Lynch’s Prophet Song received the Booker Prize in 2023 amidst a landscape populated with acclaimed Irish authors. Critiques labeled it as lacking originality, suggesting it failed to provide fresh insights, raising questions about its merit over other shortlisted works.
