Nick Drnaso’s Sabrina is a story of a missing young woman and the 24-hour aftermath. It illustrates a story of internet rumors, conspiracy theories and fake news. In Britain’s most prestigious literary award, long-listing of a graphic novel marks a major breakthrough for the format. If Nick Drnaso wins, it would be the biggest moment for the graphic format since Art Spiegelman’s ‘Maus’ won a special Pulitzer Prize in 1992. 

Apart from this, the long list has Rachel Kushner’s ‘The Mars Room‘, Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People‘, and Michael Ondaatje’s ‘Warlight‘ who won the Booker prize for ‘The English Patient‘ in 1992 and took home the Golden Booker just a few weeks before this nomination. The list also features four debut works and four authors under the age of 30. Six of these writers are from Britain, three are from United States and two each from Ireland and Canada.

Till 2013, the Booker prize was awarded for the best original full length English novel by a Commonwealth citizen, the Republic of Ireland or Zimbabwe. But eventually the category was widened to any novel written in English and published in Britain.

The short list will be announced on September 20 and the winner will be revealed at London’s Guild Hall On October 20.

Image courtesy: BBC