Emma Donoghue on Booker Prize short list

Emma Donoghue, a Dublin-born writer now based in London, Ont., is among six authors shortlisted Tuesday for the prestigious Man Booker Prize for English-language literature.

Donoghue's novel, Room, is a dark fairy tale about a mother and son who live inside a locked room.

Also nominated is two-time winner Peter Carey for Parrot and Olivier in America. The latest from the New York-based Australian writer is a reimagining of Alexis de Tocqueville's famous journey to the New World.

The other finalists include:

• Damon Galgut of South Africa for In a Strange Room.
• Howard Jacobson of Britain for The Finkler Question.
• Andrea Levy of Britain for The Long Song.
• Tom McCarthy of Britain for C.

St. John's writer Lisa Moore had been on the long list for the coveted literary honour in July for her latest novel, February, a fictional look at the 1982 sinking of the oil rig Ocean Ranger. However, she failed to make the short list.

The Man Booker Prize, which is open to writers from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth, is worth the equivalent of about $80,000 Cdn.  The winner will be announced on Oct. 12.