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DBC Pierre pips Monica Ali to win Booker Prize 2003
London, Oct 15: Ireland-based novelist DBC Pierre has won this year`s Man Booker Prize beating the bookies` favourite Monica Ali, the judges announced in London on Tuesday.
London, Oct 15: Ireland-based novelist DBC Pierre has won this year's Man Booker Prize beating the bookies' favourite Monica Ali, the judges announced in London on Tuesday.
"Dirty But Clean" Pierre, an Australian, won the award for his debut novel Vernon God Little.
Booker is the most coveted literary award in the UK, given for the best fiction in a year from a Commonwealth or an Irish writer and carries a prize money of £50,000 prize.
Monica Ali's debut novel Brick Lane was a favourite at 13/8, against 2/1 for Vernon God Little. However, there were reports of a late flurry of bets on Vernon God Little.
One judge had hinted a few hours before the announcement that they had a "favourite" in mind. No one could, however, believe that anyone but Ali would get the award. She remained the favourite until the last minute before the announcement by John Carey, chairman of the panel of judges, at 10.25 pm.
This year's shortlist of six novelists included more debut and female authors than any other in the prize's history. Prof Carey described it as a "giant killer's year." He said, " We (the judges) talked and argued a bit before reaching the verdict."
It was, he said very difficult to choose the winner from among the six short listed authors. Pierre's real name is Peter Finlay, the DBC being a nickname standing for Dirty But Clean.
On winning the award, Pierre said, "I thank my mum who is present with me tonight. She and my family planted the idea that I could do anything."
His novel is about Vernon, a survivor of a Columbine-like massacre. But the police and media attention puts so much pressure on him that he is no longer seen as a victim and ends up accused of the murders.
Bureau Report
"Dirty But Clean" Pierre, an Australian, won the award for his debut novel Vernon God Little.
Booker is the most coveted literary award in the UK, given for the best fiction in a year from a Commonwealth or an Irish writer and carries a prize money of £50,000 prize.
Monica Ali's debut novel Brick Lane was a favourite at 13/8, against 2/1 for Vernon God Little. However, there were reports of a late flurry of bets on Vernon God Little.
One judge had hinted a few hours before the announcement that they had a "favourite" in mind. No one could, however, believe that anyone but Ali would get the award. She remained the favourite until the last minute before the announcement by John Carey, chairman of the panel of judges, at 10.25 pm.
This year's shortlist of six novelists included more debut and female authors than any other in the prize's history. Prof Carey described it as a "giant killer's year." He said, " We (the judges) talked and argued a bit before reaching the verdict."
It was, he said very difficult to choose the winner from among the six short listed authors. Pierre's real name is Peter Finlay, the DBC being a nickname standing for Dirty But Clean.
On winning the award, Pierre said, "I thank my mum who is present with me tonight. She and my family planted the idea that I could do anything."
His novel is about Vernon, a survivor of a Columbine-like massacre. But the police and media attention puts so much pressure on him that he is no longer seen as a victim and ends up accused of the murders.
Bureau Report