Americans aplenty as UK’s Booker Prize goes global

FILE - In this April 11, 2008, file photo, U.S. writer Siri Hustvedt answers questions during a reading in Zurich, Switzerland. The Americans have arrived in force for Britain's Booker literary prize. Five U.S.-based writers are on the 13-book long-list for the prestigious fiction award. The list, announced Wednesday, includes Americans Joshua Ferris, Karen Joy Fowler, Siri Hustvedt and Richard Powers, as well as Irish-American writer Joseph O'Neill. (AP Photo/Keystone/Eddy Risch, File)

By Associated Press July 23, 2014 2 min read

LONDON (AP) – The Americans have arrived in force for Britain’s Booker literary prize.

Five U.S.-based writers are on the 13-book long-list for the prestigious fiction award, announced Wednesday.

This is the first year writers of all nationalities have been eligible for the Booker, previously open only to authors from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth of former British colonies.

The roster includes Americans Joshua Ferris, Karen Joy Fowler, Siri Hustvedt and Richard Powers, as well as Irish-born, U.S-based writer Joseph O’Neill.

Also on the list are Britain’s Howard Jacobson, Neel Mukherjee, Paul Kingsnorth, David Mitchell, David Nicholls and Ali Smith, Ireland’s Niall Williams and Australia’s Richard Flanagan.