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Bennett listed for comic honour
By 
1stAngel | April 29, 2008
Author Alan Bennett has made a comic fiction prize shortlist for his book The Uncommon Reader.
The story, which sees the Queen visit a travelling library when it calls on Buckingham Palace, is up for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize.
Will Self’s account of the West’s conscience after 9/11, Joe Dunthorne, Julian Gough, Garrison Keillor and John Walsh are also nominated.
The winner will be announced at the Hay literary Festival next month.
‘Enjoyable’
The author’s prize includes having a locally-bred Gloucestershire Old Spot pig named after them, which will attend the ceremony.
The award is given out annually to the best comic novel of the previous 12 months.
Everyman’s publisher David Campbell said: “This is a brilliant and exciting shortlist. All these titles are exceptionally enjoyable books to read.”
Among the judges on this year’s panel are BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter James Naughtie and Hay Festival director Peter Florence.
Alan Bennett’s well-known works include stage play The History Boys and the Talking Heads monologues which were shown on BBC television.
The other novels shortlisted are Self’s The Butt; Dunthorne’s Submarine; Gough’s Jude: Level 1; Keillor’s Pontoon, and Walsh’s Sunday at the Cross Bones.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/7371747.stm
Published: 2008/04/28 15:32:48 GMT
© BBC MMVIII
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Topics: Book Club |