The 2024 Booker Prize shortlist features a diverse array of themes and storytelling styles, with women making history as the dominant force on the list. Of the six shortlisted novels, five are by female authors, marking the highest number of women ever shortlisted in the prize’s 55-year history. This year’s selected books tackle major contemporary issues such as race, identity, climate change, memory, and space exploration.
“James” by Percival Everett
James offers a fresh take on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, focusing on the story of Jim, the runaway slave. Everett, previously shortlisted for the Booker, reimagines Mark Twain’s classic tale by centring the narrative on a key yet often overlooked character.
“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey
Harvey’s novel is praised for its poetic approach, which delivers a unique story setting and vantage point. The astronauts are set aboard the International Space Station and reflect on life, relationships, and their place in the universe.
“Creation Lake” by Rachel Kushner
This story follows an undercover agent tasked with infiltrating an anarchist eco-activist commune in France—the novel delves into the chaotic dynamics of the climate crisis while exploring personal and political entanglements.
“Held” by Anne Michaels
Spanning four generations, examining the lingering impact of war, trauma, and memory on families. This family saga intertwines past and present as its characters grapple with love, loss, and history.
“The Safekeep” by Yael van der Wouden
This debut novel presents a post-Nazi-era queer love story set in a remote Dutch house. It explores desire, infatuation, and hidden truths in the context of more significant historical events.
“Stone Yard Devotional” by Charlotte Wood
This book tells the story of a woman retreating to a convent in Australia. Wood’s novel, partly inspired by her own life, reflects on female friendship, isolation, and the vastness of human existence.
The winner of the 2024 Booker Prize will be announced on November 12, with the victorious author receiving £50,000.