The 2011 Booker Prize Winner

 

THE SENSE OF AN ENDING

by Julian Barnes

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes has "the markings of a classic of English Literature. It is exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading," according to Stella Rimington, the chair of judges for this year's Man Booker Prize.

Barnes has previously been shortlisted three times for the Booker Prize and has finally won the £50,000 award, plus the inevitable bump in sales that the winner always gets. Last year's winner, The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson, has sold over 250,000 copies since winning the prize. 

The Sense of an Ending is the story of one man coming to terms with his personal history. Memory, middle age and friendship are the subjects of this insightful and surprising novel. It's also one of the shortest Booker Prize winners in recent memory, at approximately 150 pages.

On a personal note, I accurately predicted the prize yet again. I've accurately predicted it every year since working here, but I never tell anyone until after the prize has been announced, in case I jinx it. 

Congratulations to Julian Barnes and his local publisher Random House for this achievement.