Jamaican writer – Marlon James’ third novel: A Brief History of Seven Killings, a story about the attempted assassination of Bob Marley has won the 2015 Man Booker Prize.
The book, narrated through the numerous voices of witnesses and those involved in the attempted assassination of the music icon in 1976 was one of the best and most critically acclaimed books of 2014.
Other shortlisted books for the awards were: Tom McCarthy (UK) Satin Island, Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria) The Fishermen, Sunjeev Sahota (UK) The Year of the Runaways, Anne Tyler (US) A Spool of Blue Thread, and Hanya Yanagihara (US) A Little Life.
Michael Wood, chair of the panel of judges said “‘This book is startling in its range of voices and registers, running from the patois of the street posse to The Book of Revelation. It is a representation of political times and places, from the CIA intervention in Jamaica to the early years of crack gangs in New York and Miami.”
Marlon James was presented with a trophy and prize of US$50,000, and a further US$2,500 for being shortlisted. He is the first Jamaican to win the prize.