When I first heard the news I was apprehensive. Still am. The literary world need its prizes and its own ways of encouragement to writers.
The Man Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious literary prizes, was established in 1969. The winner receives £50,000, while each of the shortlisted authors is awarded £2,500. Both the winner and the shortlisted authors are guaranteed a worldwide readership plus an increase in book sales. Not too shabby right? Northern Irish writer Anna Burns won the 2018 prize for her book Milkman.
The main sponsor Investment manager Man Group PLC has donated £25 million pounds to the Booker Prize Foundation since 2002. They will stop funding after 2019. There are lots of speculations about what caused the cessation of funds.. Most of them pointing to a rocky relationship with the foundation,controversial changes and negative reviews.
The foundation is sure they will find a new sponsor by 2020.
I hope they do find a sponsor.