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Not on the Booker shortlist

10.09.07

A N Wilson admits that he was thrilled to have been included on the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize--until he found out it was a mistake.

"In our little street in north London, we rushed out to tell the neighbours, some of whom broke out in spontaneous, and truly touching, dances of joy. Others climbed lampposts to hang out the bunting, which had not been used since the Jubilee Party. I sat down a little stunned and began to ring up those who had been kind enough to ask me to tell them if I were lucky. But in the interval of one of these calls the telephone rang once more. 'It was a mistake. Colman Getty have just rung to say that you aren't on the list after all.'"

Wilson, writing in the Telegraph, continues: "About an hour later, a motorbike came to the front door with a letter. 'Dear Andrew, I've just got back from the Man Booker press conference to hear about the really unfortunate mistake Lois, my assistant, has made in telling Random House that Winnie and Wolf has been shortlisted for the prize. I am so, so sorry that this has happened… It was a genuine mistake, and we are all deeply upset by it.' It was signed by someone called Dotty."

Telegraph

Booker Prize A N Wilson

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