The late Beryl Bainbridge's historical novel Master George has won the much-loved author a Booker Prize. Branded the eternal Booker bridesmaid, Beryl Bainbridge has made it to the short list 5 times for this prize (between the years 1973 and 1998) but had never won the prize before.
The Guardian reported that, "following her death last July, aged 75, organisers of the award decided to honour an author who had made the shortlist more frequently than any other writer by creating a "Best of Beryl" Booker, and asked the public to vote for their favourite of Bainbridge's shortlisted books.
"Over 1,000 readers voted in the contest, with Master Georgie squeaking in just ahead of Every Man for Himself, published in 1996. The other titles in the running were all older novels: The Dressmaker (1973), The Bottle Factory Outing (1974), and An Awfully Big Adventure (1990)."
Ion Trewin, literary director of the Booker and a former judge, said: "I have a feeling that, wherever she is now, she'll be hugging herself and saying 'gosh, how lovely'. Over the years when she didn't win, she thought oh well, and had another puff on a cigarette and a drink. But to win – well, I can't believe it would give her anything other than immense pleasure."He added: "She may have been known as the eternal Booker bridesmaid, but we are delighted to be able finally to crown Master Georgie a Booker bride."
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