Booker Prize chiefs brushed off criticism over who can enter and whether the books are too difficult last night at the literary award’s shortlist party at the Serpentine Pavilion.
Director Gaby Wood committed the prize to staying open to international entries, saying there were “no borders” in literature.
In 2013, the Booker Prize changed its rules allowing only entrants from the Commonwealth to anyone writing in English and published in the UK.
Subsequent wins for Americans including Paul Beatty and George Saunders have frustrated some writers.
“The prize doesn’t discriminate against authors based on their passports,” Wood continued, “any more than it would do based on the colour of their skin or their gender.” Lord Willetts, former Tory MP and Booker Prize trustee told The Londoner: “There are people in publishing who are not reconciled to [the fact that it is open].
“I don’t detect any desire to reopen the question. For me as a Conservative I understand the importance of national identity — but the world isn’t like that any more and we have to reconcile national and international identity.”
While guests sipped champagne, enjoyed an impressive range of canapés (miniature tomato soufflés, tiny scotch eggs and vegan specialities), and cheered shortlistees including Elif Shafak, the chief of judges, Peter Florence, gave an impassioned speech. “I would like to think that all of these six novels are winners, not just today but actually for always,” he said.
Hitting back at criticism of Lucy Ellmann’s thousand-page novel Ducks, Newburyport — mostly written as eight extremely long sentences — he said: “It is as long as many, many ideas that tumble over each other and fill our hearts and minds. A thousand pages is as nothing. It’s perfect in many ways.” The Londoner admired his ardour but raised an eyebrow when he also said: “It is as long as a breath.”
Only if you have very big lungs.
Amo, amas... a prat
Classicist Mary Beard has reservations about Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his championing of ancient languages.
The Cambridge don and Front Row presenter praises Johnson for putting “effort” into “getting classics more widely taken on in London state schools” adding, “he found money for it”.
But, she also told The Londoner, that while “Latin and Greek are radical, game-changing subjects”, the way the Prime Minister and other “posh guys bandy around Latin phrases... it sort of gives the impression that Latin is a junior branch of the Tory party”.
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Print journalism ain’t what it used to be. “I remember once being on the phone in New York,” Henry Porter, the former editor of British Vanity Fair recalls, “just sitting in the office, late on a Friday afternoon and Annie Leibovitz comes through and says, ‘Oh, Henry, can I hire an armoured car in Sarajevo?’ So I naturally said yes.”
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Robert Pattinson’s attempt to learn the scale of leaks about him playing Batman left him red-faced on a flight to Cannes. He was internet-searching his own name before realising screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie was in the next seat. “Oh, God!” Pattinson tells Variety. “He’d seen me Googling myself for the past hour!”
Vogue's Edward is plastic fantastic
He’s a Barbie boy, in a Barbie world: Vogue editor Edward Enninful and his Boston terrier Ru have been immortalised as Barbie dolls, toiling away in the magazine’s offices.
It all comes after a Barbie feature in Meghan Markle’s guest-edited September issue. “Barbie came to spend a day at Vogue with Ru and I,” wrote Enninful on Instagram. “Now I’m a Ken doll and Ru is a skipper”.
You know you’ve made it when you take polyvinyl form.
SW1A
Could broadcaster Iain Dale be the next Tory candidate in Bracknell after the defection of Phillip Lee to the Lib Dems? On LBC Bracknell’s Conservative Association chair Gerry Barber reminded Dale: “You did apply in 2010 when Phillip was selected.” Replied Dale: “I’m going to do a Kate Hoey and say I rule nothing in, nothing out.”
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Speaker John Bercow slapped down Michael Gove with force yesterday, telling him he would “never dare” to gesticulate in front of the headteacher of the London school their children attend. Consulting the school’s rule book, The Londoner finds: “Parents are expected to behave in an adult, mature and amicable fashion at all times when on the school site.” Perhaps they might take this outside.
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Universal discredit for Iain Duncan Smith, who was filmed picking his nose and eating it during last night’s debate. That’s one (disgusting) way to keep your energy levels up.
Johnny, Debbie and co declare independence
The Association of Independent Music hosted its ninth annual awards in Camden last night, handing out little robot statues to artists and labels.
The event included a live show featuring The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, winner of the Pioneer award, pop sensation georgia, winner of the One to Watch award, and Ms Banks.
Jade Bird picked up the International Breakthrough Award, and Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Cinnamon came down from Glasgow to collect his audience-elected award for Best Live Act, tweeting: “I’m not into awards and stuff but it was voted on by yous, so it’s real.”
It was particularly real for grime rapper Dave, who snagged two awards, and Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry, who accepted the Outstanding Contribution prize from The Kinks’ Ray Davies. Said Harry, who arrived late: “The reason I’m late is that I’m just so goddamn independent.” Word.
Quote of the Day
'Oh well. These things happen.' David Gauke finds himself both sanguine and insouciant after losing the Tory whip following his first ever rebellion in 14 years as an MP.
