Legend Press author Emma Seaman has been invited to take part in one of Waterstones ‘Great Booker Debates’ next week, to coincide with the announcement of this year’s Man Booker Prize winner.
Six local authors have each been given one of the shortlisted books to read and on Tuesday evening will go head-to-head in a public debate - after which the audience can vote for their Booker winner.
Emma chose Devon-linked author Phillip Hensher’s ‘The Northern Clemency’, a huge 738-page doorstop of a novel which covers 20-odd years and dozens of characters…
"I'll be working hard to win the debate," says Emma, "Booker prize blogs show that 'The Northern Clemency' is lagging behind in the popularity stakes, maybe because readers are intimidated by the sheer size and scale of the work! But the Booker is never predictable, and with some really unusual novels on the list this year, it's going to be a fun evening for the speakers and the audience."
The event takes place at Torquay Library on Tuesday 14th October - from 7pm.
The Man Booker Prize 2008 shortlisted novels are:
Aravind Adiga The White Tiger (Atlantic)
Sebastian Barry The Secret Scripture (Faber and Faber)
Amitav Ghosh Sea of Poppies (John Murray)
Linda Grant The Clothes on Their Backs (Virago)
Philip Hensher The Northern Clemency (Fourth Estate)
Steve Toltz A Fraction of the Whole (Hamish Hamilton)
This year's judging panel is chaired by Michael Portillo former MP and Cabinet Minister. He is joined by Alex Clark, editor of Granta; Louise Doughty, novelist; James Heneage, founder of Ottakar's bookshops and Hardeep Singh Kohli, TV and radio broadcaster.
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