Booker Prize 2023: Two debuts appear on the shortlist

The group of six writers who have been shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023 award include a British, two Americans, a Canadian, and two Irish. The list includes Indian-origin author Chetna Maroo's debut novel Western Lane.

None of them have been shortlisted for Booker Prize, the prestigious award for work of fiction written in English. before, and only one of them (Paul Murray for The Bee Sting) has been previously longlisted.

Here are the interesting facts about the six authors shortlisted this year, according to the Booker Prize Foundation:

Two debuts appear on the shortlist – Western Lane and If I Survive You

Two Americans appear on the shortlist – Jonathan Escoffery and Paul Harding; the same number as last year.

Two independent publishers – Granta and Oneworld – appear on the shortlist, with both having produced Booker winners in the past

Three Pauls appear on the shortlist for the first time. If Lynch, Harding or Murray wins, they will become the third Paul to win the Booker, after Beatty (2016) and Scott (1977).

Several books on the shortlist feature families in crisis

Real events and experiences inspired a number of the shortlistees

The two American books on the list begin with a hurricane

Here are the books shortlisted

Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery

This Other Eden by Paul Harding

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray