Man Booker International Prize 2011 - John le Carre Asks to be Withdrawn from Consideration for the Man Booker International Prize

Statements from John le Carré and Rick Gekoski

Following the announcement of the thirteen finalists of the Man Booker International Prize 2011, announced in Sydney, Australia this morning (10.30 Australia EST; 00.30 BST), literary agents, Curtis Brown, have issued the following statement on behalf of John le Carré:

“I am enormously flattered to be named as a finalist of 2011 Man Booker International Prize. However I do not compete for literary prizes and have therefore asked for my name to be withdrawn.”

Rick Gekoski, Chair of the Man Booker International Prize 2011 judges comments in response:

“John le Carré’s name will, of course, remain on the list. We are disappointed that he wants to withdraw from further consideration because we are great admirers of his work.”

Author photo by David Azia - New York Times

Report in The Telegraph.
And in the Sydney Morning Herald
And in The Guardian
This story has been run by virtually every news agency. All publicity is good publicity I guess so the Man Booker people should be happy!