British writer Beryl Bainbridge, who was shortlisted five times for the Booker Prize but never won, is getting a Booker consolation.
Her failure to win led Bainbridge being labelled as the “Booker bridesmaid” as she is the only author to have been shortlisted five times for the Booker Prize. Bainbridge, who was also an actress, died in July last year when she was 77 years old.
Bainbridge was shortlisted for Booker Prize for The Dressmaker in 1973; The Bottle Factory Outing in 1974; An Awfully Big Adventure in 1990; Every Man for Himself in 1996; and Master Georgie in 1998. She has written 17 novels, two travel books and five plays for stage and television.
The Booker Prize Foundation on Tuesday announced creation of a special prize, The Man Booker Best of Beryl, which will choose a book from her five shortlisted novels worthy of the prize.