George Saunders bags home 2017 Man Booker Prize

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American author George Saunders is the bookmakers' favorite to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize for fiction on Tuesday with his novel of the afterlife, "Lincoln in the Bardo."

Having spent his career as a short story and non-fiction writer, Saunders wrote his first full-length novel, "Lincoln in the Bardo."

The book weaves a tale around the death of Abraham Lincoln's 11-year-old son Willie, using the accounts of hundreds of narrators.

He is the second US author to win the prize following last year's victory by Paul Beatty, for his novel "The Sellout."

The prize, which was launched in 1969, was only opened to non-Commonwealth authors from 2013 – a decision that was highly controversial in Britain.

Emily Fridlund poses with her book "History of Wolves" during a photocall at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Britain, October 16, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Debut writer Emily Fridlund was in the running with "History of Wolves," an exploration of teenage desire through a 14-year-old girl in Minnesota.

Fellow debut novelist Fiona Morley, 29, was on the list for "Elmet," which tells the story of a father and his two children and their battle with a local landowner.

The British writer raised eyebrows when she revealed that she had written the story on her phone while commuting.

Paul Auster made up the US contingent with "4321," a coming-of-age narrative that replays the life of its protagonist four times over, highlighting how minor events can trigger a chain reaction with deep-lasting effects.

British author Ali Smith made the shortlist for the fourth time with "Autumn," written in response to Britain's decision to leave the European Union.

British-Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid made his second appearance on the shortlist with "Exit West," in which mysterious black doorways whisk people to far-off countries in an exploration of immigration.

A poster for the Man Booker Prize 2017. /Handout Photo

The winner is guaranteed a huge increase in global sales that dwarfs the 50,000-pound (66,400 US dollars) prize.

Previous winners of the prize, launched in 1969, include Ian McEwan, Iris Murdoch and Salman Rushdie.

The final six were whittled down from a long list of 13, with former winners and big names such as Arundhati Roy, Zadie Smith and Sebastian Barry controversially missing out.

Source(s): AP ,AFP