The Londoner: Booker prize may alter rules again

In today's diary: Gaby Wood indicates literature award's criteria may be refocused | Anne Robinson feels a strong link to Elizabeth I | Geoffrey Robertson QC makes the case for the Rosetta Stone 
All Change?: British author Bernardine Evaristo and Canadian author Margaret Atwood (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
28 November 2019

The Booker Prize may take a new direction that puts readers — rather than writers or publishers — first, says the award’s literary director, following controversy that dogged this year’s prize.

“It is for readers first, writers second, and publishers third — and they are all completely interrelated,” said Gaby Wood, adding: “My predecessor possibly thought of it as being more connected to publishers because he was a former publisher,” referring to Ion Trewin. This year’s ceremony shocked literary Britain after the prize was split between Margaret Atwood and Bernadine Evaristo, despite rules that should have prevented a joint award. Now Wood is indicating the prize’s criteria may be refocused.

“Our job really is to find readers — and by that I mean people on the panel [of judges],” she told Futurebook Live, The Bookseller’s annual publishing conference. “Are those readers receptive to what is going on that’s most exciting in writing? Do we need to change the rules if that’s not the case? [Our job is] just to be a little bit flexible... and also not to think of it as an act of snobbery.”

Challenging: Mount Snowdon (Photo by: Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Universal Images Group via Getty

Charges of snobbishness and elitism have long been a minefield for the Booker. The 2018 chair of judges, Kwame Anthony Appiah, said of winning novel Milkman “it is a challenge in the way a walk up Snowdon is challenging”. But earlier this decade the prize was criticised from the other direction after it focused on “readabililty”. In 2011 then Poet Laureate Andrew Motion said the Booker had created “a false divide” between high-brow literature and readability. However, Wood believes the awards should not be seen “as an act of judgment at all”, but rather “as an invitation to investigation”.

She said this year’s dual award saved itself from ignominy because of “how incredibly gracious” Evaristo and Atwood have been but Wood reiterated if it were up to her, she “wouldn’t have been for it”. “I think it’s really upsetting for the losers; it’s much worse to not win when two people have.”

Lost in Translation

Geoffrey Robertson QC may act for the Greek government seeking the return of the Elgin Marbles but there’s at least one treasure he thinks should stay in the British Museum — the Rosetta Stone. “It’s a tax dodge for some priests,” the lawyer explained at a How To Academy talk over the weekend. “The magic of the Rosetta Stone is that now it’s a guide to a complete civilisation,” he added. The translation work that made it of worldwide significance, he pointed out, was done while it was in British possession, therefore “it belongs in the British Museum”.

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Barbara Taylor Bradford, speaking at a Women in Journalism event to celebrate her career, was asked to pick between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson. Corbyn, she said, was like something that had “risen from the dead” while when she met Johnson, he said he’d read all her books and she replied: “You’re a liar but I bet all your women have.”

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Camp Christmas: Emma Thompson (Photo: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Mike Marsland/WireImage

Emma Thompson’s childhood Christmases sound like scenes from a Richard Curtis film. “We were surrounded by gay godfathers who dressed up as Mary Magdalene and enacted in very camp fashion the Christmas story in our tiny flat in West Hampstead,” the Love Actually star told a Guardian Live event last night.

The ginger link to Good Queen Bess

All hail: Anne Robinson (Photo: Indigo/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Is Anne Robinson the reincarnation of Good Queen Bess? “I’m doing a documentary series on the kings and queens of England. “I’m Elizabeth I because I’ve got the right colour hair, and probably the right stroppiness,” the presenter told The Londoner. The similarities between the razor wit of The Weakest Link host and the ruler over the Golden Age do not end there. “I’m not dating anyone, but I’m looking to see if I can find someone who punches above their weight.”

SW1A

Lord Archer got all misty-eyed about life under Margaret Thatcher last night, saying “the whole problem” of Brexit wouldn’t have happened under her watch. At a Hatchards event marking the 40th anniversary of his bestseller Kane and Abel, the former Tory deputy chair said Thatcher (below) “would have never allowed a referendum” and added “the 11 years with [her] taught us what discipline really was”. The Londoner calls that political fantasy.

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What are the odds? Jo Johnson, knocked on the door of Lord Horam, his predecessor as MP for Orpington, while out canvassing in Fulham for Greg Hands. “He was the only person all day who said he wouldn’t be voting for Greg,” Johnson confessed to The Londoner. “Only because he’s a peer and can’t vote at all.”

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James Cleverly has a bad injury for the election. The Tory chairman has broken his little finger, he tells the website Joe. All those canvassing handshakes...

Jaime and co land on Mayfair

Community Chest: Daisy Lowe, Jaime Winstone and Nick Grimshaw  (Photo: Dave Benett)
Dave Benett/Getty Images for The

Another hotel was added on to the Mayfair square last night with the launch of the Biltmore. Actor Jaime Winstone, models Daisy Lowe, Alice Dellal and Arizona Muse, musician Jack Peñate and entrepreneur Tiffany Watson were entertained by DJ Nick Grimshaw’s set on the decks.

Also out were rock band Kasabian’s frontman Serge Pizzorno and singer Lily Allen for the launch of the AW19 Flannels at its flagship store in Oxford Street where rapper AJ Tracey performed. Tracey has recently denied accusations of being a Tory after he encouraged his fans to vote without telling them who he is backing on Twitter. “AJ Tory,” commented one on his feed. Tracey replied: “I’m gonna shut this Tory nonsense down immediately. Yuck. But just because I hate the Conservatives doesn’t mean I’m gonna tell people to vote for the party I want.” Maybe democracy won’t fail us yet.

Quote of the Day

Wasn't me: Daisy Ridley (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Getty Images

'It wasn't me' - Daisy Ridley channels Shaggy as she denies being the careless Star Wars actor who left their embargoed script under their bed

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