Two Irish writers make Booker prize shortlist

Two Irish authors feature on this year's Booker prize shortlist announced in London this afternoon.

Sebastian Barry and John Banville

John Banville and Sebastian Barry are among six novelists included on a predominantly British selection.

Banville - shortlisted in 1989 for The Book of Evidence- was selected for his 13th novel The Seawhile Barry was nominated for his first World War novel A Long Long Way.

Favourite to win the £50,000 prize is British author Julian Barnes for his novel Arthur & George.

The other shortlisted books include Never Let Me Goby Kazuo Ishiguro, The Accidentalby Ali Smith and On Dutyby Zadie Smith.

Among the surprise absentees were previous winners Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan and J M Coetzee.

Chair of the judges John Sutherland said the long list of 17 had been "extraordinarily strong".

Mr Sutherland said: "The judges felt the selection of the shortlist was an unusually difficult process this year. There was sufficient quality for two distinguished lists.

"The strength of the year's competition can be measured by the fact that three good books by previous Booker winners were finally not selected.

"This shortlist, we believe, witnesses the remarkable quality of the current state of fiction," he said.

The winner of the prize will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 10th.