The International Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in literature, given to outstanding books translated into English. It celebrates authors and translators from different countries, bringing diverse stories to readers worldwide. The prize highlights literary excellence and helps people discover powerful books from various cultures. Over the years, many remarkable works have won this award, gaining global recognition.
Origin of the International Booker Prize
The prize was first introduced in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize. At that time, it was awarded every two years to an author for their lifetime achievement in literature. Writers such as Ismail Kadare, Chinua Achebe and Alice Munro were honored for their contributions to fiction.
In 2016, the format changed. Instead of honoring an author’s overall work, the prize began recognizing a single translated book. This change helped bring attention to outstanding books and their translators, making global literature more accessible.
Prize Money and Recognition
The International Booker Prize has a total prize fund of £50,000, which is equally shared between the author and the translator. This ensures that translators, who play a key role in bringing stories to a wider audience, receive for their work. Additionally, each shortlisted author and translator receive £2,500.
Selection Process for International Booker Prize
The prize follows a three-stage process each year:
- March: Announcement of the longlist (12-13 books)
- April: Announcement of the shortlist (6 books)
- May: The winner is announced.
List of International Booker Prize Winners from 2005 to 2015
From 2005 to 2015, the International Booker Prize was awarded every two years to authors for their lifetime achievements in literature. It honored great writers from around the world, recognizing their overall contributions rather than a single book.
Here is the list of winners of the International Booker Prize from 2005 to 2015:
Year | Winner Name | For Entire Work |
2005 | Ismail Kadare | Lifetime Achievement |
2007 | Chinua Achebe | Lifetime Achievement |
2009 | Alice Munro | Lifetime Achievement |
2011 | Philip Roth | Lifetime Achievement |
2013 | Lydia Davis | Lifetime Achievement |
2015 | Laszlo Krasznahhorkai | Lifetime Achievement |
List of Winners of International Booker Prize from 2016 to 2025
Since 2016, the International Booker Prize has been awarded annually to a single translated book. It honors both the author and translator, highlighting outstanding fiction from around the world. The prize celebrates global storytelling and cultural exchange.
Here is the list of winners of the International Booker prize from 2016 to 2025:
Year | Winner | Book | Translator |
2016 | Han Kang | The Vegetarian | N/A |
2017 | David Grossman | A Horse Walks into a Bar | N/A |
2018 | Olga Tokarczuk | Flights | N/A |
2019 | Jokha Alharthi | Celestial Bodies | Marilyn Booth |
2020 | Marieke Lucas Rijneveld | The Discomfort of Evening | Michele Hutchison |
2021 | David Diop | At Night All Blood is Black | Anna Moschovakis |
2022 | Geetanjali Shree | Tomb of Sand | Daisy Rockwell |
2023 | Georgi Gospodinov | Time Shelter | Angela Rodel |
2024 | Alhierd Bacharevic | Alindarka’s Children | Jim Dingley & Petra Reid |
2025 | Yet to be Announced | Ye to be Announced | Yet to be announced |