Sometimes, the list of entrants who don’t make make it onto the shortlist for a literary prize can be as interesting as those who do. The prestigious Folio Prize, which is open to books of any genre from anywhere in the world, written in the english language and published in England, this week named its final eight, and there were some surprising omissions. First the shortlist which includes some exciting and original works:
Is the list of finalists for the Folio Prize a sign of Booker prizes to come?
Five of the eight shortlisted works for the £40,000 Folio prize are by Americans, Amity Gaige for Schroder and Sergio De La Pava for A Naked Singularity – both debut novels – Rachel Kushner for The Flame Throwers, George Saunders for his story collection Tenth of December and Kent Haruf for Benediction. Could…