17/10/2007

Booker Winner Celebrated

Tributes have flooded in for Dublin author, Anne Enright who has just won the 2007 Man Booker prize.

By coincidence, one of the now international literary star’s first appointments will be with local festival-goers, as she is appearing in the Belfast Festival at Queens alongside Bangor author, Glenn Patterson on Friday evening.

She will be talking about her latest novel, the now world-beating title, The Gathering.

Ms Enright is the second Irish writer in three years to win the £50,000 award, which guarantees increased sales and recognition.

The novel beat competition from five other writers, including previous winner Ian McEwan, author of the epic novel, Atonement.

Irish Arts Minister Seamus Brennan said the award was a testament to Enright’s talent as a writer and maturity as a creative artist.

"She has fused tragedy with humour to deliver a novel that is compelling and at times haunting. Ireland can be truly proud of her success against such a prestigious and internationally recognised shortlist of other competing writers."

(BMcC)

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