Marlon James named Booker Prize finalist for novel The Disappearers

Jamaican writer Marlon James has been named a finalist for the Booker Prize for his novel, The Disappearers, the Scranton Times-Tribune reported. He is one of six finalists competing for the annual literary award, which includes a cash prize equivalent to about $67,000. The winner will be announced on November 9. [1][2]

The Disappearers is a 633-page novel centered on gay men facing a hostile environment in Jamaica during the 1980s, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune. Kaylie Jones, a writer and Wilkes University professor who helped James find a publisher, stated that the author is kind of stunned by the nomination. [1][5]

James earned a master's degree in creative writing from Wilkes University in 2006. He is the author of six novels, including John Crow's Devil, The Book of Night Women, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, and Moon Witch, Spider King. His 2014 novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings, won the 2015 Man Booker Prize, making him the first Jamaican author to receive the honor. [1][2][5]

The Booker Prize is awarded annually for the best single work of sustained English fiction published in the United Kingdom or Ireland. The prize carries a £50,000 award and delivers international publicity that typically leads to a significant increase in book sales. A victory on November 9 would make James a rare two-time winner of the award. [1][3]