Dublin author John Banville published his first book in 1970. He has 14 other novels published and was previously short listed for the Booker prize in 1989 for The Book of Evidence. Last night at an awards dinner in Guildhall, London Banville was named the winner of the Man Booker Prize for his book The Sea.

The Booker Prize for Fiction has been a prestigious award for writers since 1969. It strives to reward writers and increase public awareness of contemporary fiction. The prize is awarded to the best original novel by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. The official website has a full history of the prize, winner bios and shortlists.

Banville will receive $50,000. All six short listed authors will receive $2,500 and a specially bound edition of their book. All participants, especially the winner, will experience an increase sales and world wide recognition for their writing. Long and short list authors will also become highly regarded.

The Sea (Picador) - "Led back to Ballyless by a dream, Max Morden is both escaping from a recent loss and confronting a distant trauma in the coastal town where he spent a holiday in his youth. The Grace family appeared that long-ago summer as if from another world. Drawn to the Grace twins, Chloe and Myles, Max soon found himself entangled in their lives which were as seductive as they were unsettling. What ensued haunts him for the rest of his years and shapes everything that is to follow."

Purchase The Sea from Amazon.com.
Purchase The Sea from Amazon.ca.

Purchase The Book of Evidence from Amazon.com.
Purchase The Book of Evidence from Amazon.ca.

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M. E. Wood lives in Eastern Ontario, Canada. If you are going to find this eclectic reader and writer anywhere it is probably at her computer. For more information visit her official website.