2008 Man Booker Shortlist Announced

Posted by Lisa Rufle Sep 12, 2008

The Man Booker Prize 2008 shortlist was recently announced, with plenty of surprise from critics. Here's a look at the books that made this year's cut:

• Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger
• Sebastian Barry's The Secret Scripture
• Amitav Ghosh's Sea of Poppies
• Linda Grant's The Clothes on Their Backs
• Phillip Hensher's The Northern Clemency
• Steve Tolz's A Fraction of the Whole

So what surprised critics? Not so much who appeared on the list as who was left off. Popular novels that were expected to make the cut, but didn't, included Netherland by Joseph O'Neill, The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie and The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser.

The winner will be chosen on October 14, 2008, and be formally presented with their award later that evening at Guildhall, London.