South African author J.M. Coetzee won the Booker Prize last night for his novel Disgrace. It was the second time he had been on the shortlist, and the second time he had won it - the first time the double has happened in the 31-year history of the Booker.
Sadly - also for the second time - he did not turn up at last night's glittering awards ceremony in London's Guildhall.
Instead of the anticipated cheering, stomping and general hullabaloo in honour of a new star, or a lifetime's achievement, there was a sense of acute disappointment among those attending the ceremony. There was a short note, read by Coetzee's agent, reminding everyone what they already knew. "This remains the ultimate prize to win in the English language," he wrote.
The prize itself is £20,000 - no great shakes compared with some, but its power to sell books is unrivalled. Shortly before the announcement, Irish author Colm Toibin, shortlisted for The Blackwater Lightship, said his sales had increased "by a factor of three". Although he was not confident that he would take the prize, yesterday morning he took the precaution of placing a bet on himself. Sadly, there is no opportunity to bet on a second, third or subsequent place, although this year the chairman of the judges, Gerald Kaufman, a one-time Labour minister, broke with tradition by naming Anita Desai as the runner-up, "had we been allowed to have one'.
Of this year's six shortlisted authors only Michael Frayn was an English. In the Scottish corner there was Andrew O'Hagan, film critic for the Daily Telegraph, who had been shortlisted for his first novel, Our Fathers. His wife, journalist India Knight - shaming the majority of the black-clad guests with a magnificent red dress - said that while her husband was totally calm, she herself was "nearly throwing up".
Unlike some other prizes, the winner's name is unknown until the moment it is announced. The judges spend the day hidden away in the rococo confines of the Guildhall in the City of London, where the Booker ceremony and dinner are held. "It's totally sadistic," Ms Knight said. "How are you expected to eat?"
Colm Toibin agreed. Some years, he said, the word gets out, and then everybody can relax. But not this year. The bookies' favourite was Michael Frayn, who Ladbrokes had at 7/4 on. Toibin was fourth with William Hill, at five to one.
He and his companion, Caitriona Crowe, were dressed for the occasion by John and Odette Rocha in requisite black, though the pockets of Toibin's suit sported an appliqued ribbon of antique lace. Hidden under the a rather long sleeves were a pair of moonstone cufflinks, on loan from Roddy Doyle's father.
They were by way of a good luck talisman, as Doyle had worn them when he won the Booker in 1993. But for Toibin history would not be repeated. Not that he seemed to be worried. What he was really looking forward to, he said, was his publisher's party.