The annual Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize is given each year to the book considered to best capture the comic spirit of PG Wodehouse, and this year’s shortlist is now revealed! The shortlist for 2016 contains some great novels, including a new works by previous winner Marina Lewycka who is shortlisted for The Lubetkin Legacy. Lewycka previously won the prize in 2005 with A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, a book that went on to be a bestseller.
Previously shortlisted authors Paul Murray and John O’Farrell also make the list, and a couple of debut novels too, including The Sellout by Paul Beatty, which was also named as one of the NY Times bestselling books of 2015.
The winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize 2016 will be revealed ahead of the Hay Festival, which begins 26th May and we’ll bring you news of that as we have it. Here’s this year’s shortlist in full:
The Sellout – Paul Beatty
Paul Beatty is a New York author and The Sellout is his debut novel. It’s billed as hilarious with dynamic language and an exciting premise as the narrator starts a campaign to restore a small town in California back to its former glory.
The Lubetkin Legacy – Marina Lewycka
Previous winner Lewycka creates yet another upside down world in the Lubetkin Legacy as she takes an absurd look at the pitfalls of North London life in the 21st century.
The Mark and the Void – Paul Murray
Previously shortlisted winner Paul Murray tells a tale of two Dubliners in The Mark and the Void. Claude is a banker who decides to rob his own bank and a novelist and crook, Paul, who helps him do it, to elegantly funny effect.
There’s Only Two David Beckhams – John O’Farrell
O’Farrell is another previously shortlisted winner and here There’s Only Two Beckhams imagines England reaching the final at the Qatar World Cup in 2022 and the crisis of one journalist who could undo it all in a single scandal. Billed as ridiculous and fantastical, and crammed with gags.
There’s Only Two Beckhams (US)
There’s Only Two Beckhams (UK)
The Improbability of Love – Hannah Rothschild
The Improbability of Love has also been longlisted for the Baileys Prize 2016 and is a wonderful satire set around the London art trade. Preposterous billionaires, Russian Oligarchs and brilliant conceit carry this very funny novel.
The Improbability of Love (US)
The Improbability of Love (UK)
The winner will be announced in early May, prior to the Hay Festival, and will also be presented with a Gloucester Old Spot Pig named after the winning novel as part of the prize. Last year’s winner was Alexander McCall Smith for his novel Fatty O’Leary’s Dinner Party.
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