Ladbrokes Bookmakers has named Haruki Murakami 4/1 favourite this week to take home the Nobel Prize for Literature 2016. The hugely popular Japanese novelist is one of the world’s most translated authors and with such a notable selection, it could be understandable why he sits as favourite.
However, as previous years have shown, the betting on the Nobel Prizes is rarely correct, and it’s a difficult one to call right to the last moment. This is because there’s no shortlist, longlist, or selection process that is shown to the public or transparent.
The shortlists are closed and aren’t open for 50 years after the event, which means the 2016 shortlist will be released in 2066. Literally any author is in the running, and until the prize is announced, nothing is certain.
The original deadline for the Nobel Prize for Literature with 6th October, but in an unusual move it’s been delayed to 13th due to members disagreeing. Whether Ladbrokes has inside information can’t be known of course, but it’s less than a week now until we hear the winner and the betting market is at least vibrant.
If you do put any strength on the betting then here at the top 5, but before you go out and put your wages on Murakami, he’s been the favourite now for several years and hasn‘t won the prize to date!
(Odds correct at going to press)
Haruki Murakami 4/1
Adonis – 6/1
Philip Roth – 7/1
Ngugi wa Thiong’o 10/1
Joyce Carol Oates – 14/1
Bookshop.org launches a second-hand buy-back scheme
Authors & major publishing houses sue over Florida book ban laws
Queen Camilla and Attorney General donate books to vandalised library
Irish author, Edna O’Brien, dies aged 93