Small publishers are sweeping the Booker and Nobel prizes
Independent companies are outclassing their bigger rivals
In recent years the judges of the Booker prize, Britain’s most prestigious literary award, have opted for sombre novels about apartheid, civil war and poverty. The winner for 2023 is, once again, not the sort of jolly yarn that will provide relief from the news. “Prophet Song” imagines Ireland’s descent into totalitarianism. Paul Lynch, the author (pictured), has said he was “trying to see into the modern chaos”.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Small, but mighty”
Culture December 2nd 2023
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