Booker Prize Winners List (2010-2022)

Physics Wallah Academic Expert
November 04, 2023

Knowing the Booker Prize winners is an important and necessary part of any competitive exams. With questions on Booker Prizes and its winners, one can fetch additional marks in the current affairs and general awareness section.


Thus, this article will provide detailed info on the Booker Prize Winners List (2010-2022), along with related facts and the author's background.


What is Booker Prize?


The Booker Prize, earlier known as the ‘Booker Prize for Fiction’ from 1969–2001 and in 2002–2019 known as the ‘Man Booker Prize’, is a highly prestigious and influential literary award given each year to the best novel writer in the English language and published in the United Kingdom and Ireland.


Booker Prize Winners List (2010-2022)


The Booker Prize is a literary hallmark and a celebration of contemporary English-language literature's finest achievements. It recognizes and rewards the talents of authors who attract readers with their narratives, themes, and literary craftsmanship. Here is the complete in-depth list of Booker Prize Winners List from 2010-2022:-



The Booker Prize Winner for 2010 - Howard Jacobson for ‘The Finkler Question’


About the Author: Howard Eric Jacobson was born on 25 August 1942 in Manchester, England. Jacobson was educated at Cambridge University, and after that, he served as a novelist and broadcaster. He was known for his humorous and insightful storytelling; Jacobson's works often explore themes of identity and human relationships, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary literature.


About the Book: The Finkler Question (2010) is a comical and thought-provoking study of friendship, identity, and Jewish culture. It tells the story of three friends named Julian Treslove, Sam Finkler, and Libor Sevcik as they explore what it means to be Jewish. Jacobson wrote this to maintain the themes of loyalty, self-discovery, and the pursuit of meaning in a complex world.


The Booker Prize Winner for 2011 - Julian Barnes for ‘The Sense of an Ending’


About the Author: Julian Barnes was born on 19 January 1946 in Leicester, England. Worked as an English writer and interpreter. He has written over 13 novels, including The Sense of an Ending, which won the 2011 Man Booker Prize.  


About the Book: The Sense of an Ending is an immense investigation of perception, memory, and the narratives one tells to thyself about one's past. It delves into the life of its protagonist, Tony Webster, and his reflections on his youth, friendship, and the unexpected consequences of his actions. 


The Booker Prize Winner for 2012 - Hilary Mantel for ‘Bring Up the Bodies’


About the Author: Hilary Mantel is a renowned British author known for her bleakly comic, socially probing novels set in a wide range of contemporary and historical novels. Her works, including "Wolf Hall" and "Bring Up the Bodies," have earned her multiple Booker Prizes, making her a prominent figure in contemporary historical fiction. 


About the Book: "Bring Up the Bodies" delves into the life of Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to King Henry VIII, and his role in the downfall of Anne Boleyn. The novel brilliantly explores political intrigue, power struggles, and Tudor court details. For this gripping and meticulous historical research and vivid storytelling, Mantel jumped on the list.


The Booker Prize Winner for 2013 - Eleanor Catton for ‘The Luminaries’


About the Author: Eleanor Catton is a talented New Zealand-Canadian author born on September 24, 1985. In the year 2013, The Luminaries won the Booker Prize, making Eleanor the youngest author ever to win the prize and only the second New Zealander.

About the Book: Eleanor Catton's novel "The Luminaries" is set during the New Zealand gold rush of the 1860s. It explores a complex network of characters and mysteries as secrets are revealed, merging astrology with adventure. 


The Booker Prize Winner for 2014 - Richard Flanagan for ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’


About the Author: Richard Flanagan - is an Australian literary treasure born in 1961 in Longford, Tasmania, Australia. He has graced us with his exquisite prose and tales rooted in his homeland's rugged beauty. His novel "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" was on the Booker Prize List in the year 2014, revealing his mastery of evoking emotions and captivating readers with deeply moving narratives.


About the Book: Richard Flanagan's "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" is a powerful novel set during World War II. In the novel, an Australian doctor becomes a prisoner of war in the Far East as the Burma Railway is being built, and he suffers by recalling a romantic relationship he had with his uncle's wife. Many years later, his rising fame conflicts with his sense of guilt and failure.


The Booker Prize Winner for 2015 - Marlon James for ‘A Brief History of Seven Killings’


About the Author: Marlon James was born on 24 November 1970. He is a Jamaican writer who has astonished the world with his powerful storytelling. James' fearless exploration of Jamaican history and culture, as well as his ability to weave intricate narratives, are truly inspirational.


About the Book: Through his book "A Brief History of Seven Killings'', Marlon wants to weave a complex narrative that delves into the assassination of Bob Marley. A Brief History of Seven Killings explores politics, violence, and reggae music in Jamaica, spanning three decades. 


The Booker Prize Winner for 2016 - Paul Beatty for ‘The Sellout’


About the Author: Paul Beatty was born on 9 June 1962 in Los Angeles, California. He serves as an American author and an associate professor of writing at Columbia University. His radical voice in American literature captivated many hearts like me. With his bold wit and incisive social commentary, his novel made history, which led him to become the first American to win the Booker Prize in 2016.


About the Book: The Sellout is a 2015 novel by Paul Beatty published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. It is a sarcastic masterpiece that tackles race and identity in contemporary America. It follows an African-American narrator who attempts to reinstate segregation in his California neighborhood, resulting in a surreal and thought-provoking examination of racism, stereotypes, and societal absurdities. The Sellout takes place in and around Los Angeles, California, and muses about the state of racial relations in the U.S. today.


The Booker Prize Winner for 2017 - George Saunders for ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’


About the Author: George Saunders was born on December 2, 1958. He is an American writer of short stories, essays, children's books, and novels. Moreover, Saunders is also known as the master of the short story. George always touched our souls with his remarkable narratives and inventive storytelling. This led him to gain a ton of following and significant recognition. His distinctive narrative style has redefined the possibilities of the short story genre.  


About the Book: "Lincoln in the Bardo" is a unique novel set in a Georgetown cemetery, where the spirit of Abraham Lincoln's deceased. The story is told by a chorus of spirits who reflect on their own life as well as the pain of the living world. George’s unique storytelling combines historical events with supernatural elements and results in a deep exploration of grief, love, and the human condition.  


The Booker Prize Winner for 2018 - Anna Burns for ‘Milkman’


About the Author: Anna Burns was born on 7 March 1962 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1987, Anna moved to London and wrote her first novel, No Bones - which is an account of a girl's life growing up in Belfast during the Troubles. Later, in 2018, Burns became the first Northern Irish writer to win the prize when her third novel, ‘Milkman’ came out on top.


About the Book: Milkman is marvelous writing. Begin with the distinctive and consistently realized voice of the funny, resilient, plain-spoken, first-person protagonist. Her words draw readers right into the daily violence of her world from the first page onward, including murder threats and state-sponsored hit squad deaths. All the while, she responds to the day-to-day realities of her life as a young woman, juggling the demands of her family, friends, and lovers in an unstable period. Lastly, as a writer, I can say that “Milkman is a miracle of stylistic invention.”


The Booker Prize Winner for 2019


In 2019, the Booker Prize was shared by two exceptional authors: "The Testaments" by Margaret Atwood and "Girl, Woman, Other" by Bernardine Evaristo.


‘The Testaments’ by Margaret Eleanor Atwood


About the Author: Margaret Eleanor Atwood was born on November 18, 1939, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, inventor and environmental activist. Since 1961, Margaret has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of non-fiction, 9 short fiction, 8 children's books, 2 graphic novels, etc.


About the Book: Margaret Atwood's work The Testaments was published in 2019. It's the follow-up to The Handmaid's Tale (1985). The writing is about Aunt Lydia, a character from the last work, i.e. The Handmaid's Tale; Agnes, a young woman living in Gilead; Daisy, a young woman living in Canada.


‘Girl, Woman, Other’ by B. Evaristo


About the Author: Bernardine Evaristo is the Anglo-Nigerian award-winning author of several books of fiction and poetry novels that delve into many facets of the African diaspora: past, present, real, and imagined. Her novel Girl, Woman, Other won the Booker Prize in 2019. 


About the Book: Girl, Woman, Other is about the lives and struggles of twelve very different characters. These characters are mostly women, black and British, and they tell the stories of their families, friends, and lovers across the country and through the years.


The Booker Prize Winner for 2020 - Douglas Stuart for ‘Shuggie Bain’


About the Author: Douglas Stuart was born on 31 May 1976 in Glasgow, Scotland. Stuart is a Scottish-American fashion designer and writer who studied at the Scottish College of Textiles and London's Royal College of Art.  


About the Book: Shuggie Bain, written by Douglas Stuart, is the debut, published in 2020 by Picador and Pan Macmillan publication. It tells the story of a young child, Shuggie, growing up with his alcoholic mother, Agnes, in 1980s post-industrial working-class Glasgow.


The Booker Prize Winner for 2021 - Damon Galgut for ‘The Promise’


About the Author: Damon Galgut was born on 12 November 1963. He is a South African novelist and playwright. Galgut was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 6. Being gay, Galgut can focus more on male-oriented relationships in his writing.


About the Book: South African novelist Damon Galgut's 2021 book, "The Promise", was released by Umuzi, a Penguin Random House South Africa subsidiary. It charts the crash and burn of a white South African family living on a farm outside Pretoria. The story is about the country that moves from old deep divisions to its new so-called fairer society, which is the lost promise of more than just one family hovering behind the novel's title.


The Booker Prize Winner for 2022 - Shehan Karunatilaka for ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’


About the Author: Shehan Karunatilaka is a Sri Lankan writer who is known for his rock songs, screenplays, and travel stories. He grew up in Colombo, studied in New Zealand, and has lived and worked in London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. 


About the Book: The Book is about a dead photographer, Maali Almeida, who sets out to solve the mystery of his death and is given one week, i.e. seven moons(that is used in the title), during which he can travel between the afterlife and the real world. It was set in the 1980s in Sri Lanka.


In conclusion, in a world where stories play a transformative power, authors like Richard Flanagan, Shehan Karunatilaka, Marlon James, Paul Beatty, George Saunders, and Julian Barnes shine as literary leading stars. Their words lighten up the human experience, challenge, and boundaries. Their Booker Prize Winner List acceptance is not only a monument to their brilliance but also a reminder that storytelling crosses borders and drives change. 


Booker Prize Winners have a high chance of being asked in any Competitive or Government exams, so to score good marks, you must have the Booker Prize Winners List. Wait! Wait!! Are you preparing for a Competitive Exam too? Check out India's most affordable store, PW Store.


Booker Prize Winners FAQs


  • Who is the Booker Prize Winner 2022?


The second novel by Shehan Karunatilaka won the Booker Prize in 2022. The name of the novel was “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”.


  • Who are the Booker Prize winners from India?


V.S. Naipaul, Salman Rushdie, Kiran Desai, Aravind Adiga, Kazuo Ishiguro, Hari Kunzru and Rupi Kaur are Booker Prize winners from India. 


  • How many total Booker Prize Winners are there?


Since 1969, there have been 36 men and 18 women who have won the Booker Prize. The Booker Prize is a prestigious award given annually to the best novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.


  • Who won the Booker Prize twice?


Hilary Mantel won the Booker Prize twice for her historical novel. The first win was for "Wolf Hall" in 2009, and the second win was for "Bring Up the Bodies" in 2012.


  • Who was the first Indian to win the Booker prize?


V.S. Naipaul was the first Indian to win the Booker Prize for his book “In a Free State”.

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