‘From the very beginning of what was originally called the Booker Prize there was just one criterion - the prize would be for “the best novel in the opinion of the judges”. The aim was to increase the reading of quality fiction and to attract “the intelligent general audience”.

The prize, which launched in 1969, aims to promote the finest in fiction by rewarding the best novel of the year written in English.

Previous winners of The Booker Prize are

The Testaments Margaret Atwood

Girl, Woman, Other Bernardine Evaristo

Milkman  Anna Burns

Lincoln in the Bardo George Saunders

The Sellout Paul Beatty