An epic novel about the ghost of a murdered man trying a right a wrong during the Sri Lankan civil war has won this this year’s Booker Prize with the judges saying it was a story that “will last”.
Shehan Karunatilaka accepted the £50,000 prize for his novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida at a ceremony at the Roundhouse in north London.
Accepting the prize, Karunatilaka praised the “spectacular” shortlist and said it had been “an honour and a privilege” to be nominated.
“I’m fans of all your books and fans of you,” he said.
“And without meaning to sound trite, we are all winners for being part of this magnificent shortlist, though, perhaps I might pocket the extra cash if that’s OK?”
He thanked his publishers for taking on his “weird and difficult and strange” book and his first-time readers for putting up with “so many messy, horrible drafts”.
Karunatilaka added: “My hope for Seven Moons is this; that in the not-too-distant future, 10 years, as long as it takes, SriLanka… has understood that these ideas of corruption and race baiting and cronyism have not worked and will never work.
“I hope it’s in print in 10 years but if it is, I hope it’s written in (a) Sri Lanka that learns from its stories, and that Seven Moons will be in the fantasy section of the bookshop… next to the dragons, the unicorns (and) will not be mistaken for realism or political satire.”
Former British Museum boss Neil MacGregor, who chaired the judges, said it was “a book that takes the reader on a rollercoaster journey through life and death right to what the author describes as the dark heart of the world and there the reader finds to their surprise, joy, tenderness, love and loyalty”.
He said the judges had been unanimous in their decision to give the award to the Sri-Lankan-born writer and musician, adding: “We’ve all read it three times. We think it is a book that will last.”
The novel, published by independent press Sort of Books, is set in 1990 and follows a war photographer, Maali Almeida, in the days after his death as he tries to lead his loved ones to a hidden cache of photographs.
Speaking before his win was announced, Karunatilaka said he wanted to write ‘a ghost story where the dead could offer their perspective’ on the war that ravaged his country.
Winning the prize will boost his sales massively with each year’s winner traditionally heading to the top of the bestseller list after the award is announced.
MacGregor said it was “an afterlife noir that dissolves the boundaries not just of different genres, but of life and death, body and spirit, east and west”.
This year’s ceremony was the first fully in person event since 2019 and was marked by one of the first public appearances of The Queen Consort Camilla as well as singer Dua Lipa who made a speech about the joy of books.
The Queen Consort arrived at the Roundhouse with her sister Annabel Elliot, and one of the first people she met was the pop star.
During her conversation with Camilla, the New Rules singer appeared to say “no singing tonight”, but later led a rendition of Happy Birthday to shortlisted author Alan Garner, who turned 88 on Monday.
Previous winners include Salman Rushdie, Hilary Mantel and Margaret Atwood.
