The Bookseller.com

5th December 2008

« Headlines

Booker shortlist 'will not be free'

18.10.07

The British Council has moved to clarify its position on electronic editions of Man Booker Prize shortlisted novels following a report in the Times this morning. The body said that while it is in negotiations with publishers to create an online collection of literature, this would be for sale rather than free.

A spokesperson for the British Council said: "It is true that the British Council is in negotiations with leading publishers to create an online collection of contemporary British literature including the Man Booker Prize winners in the form of e-books, which can be purchased."

They acknowledged that central to this "innovative approach" would be making sure that authors are remunerated for their work. A pilot scheme is planned for 2008 aimed at audiences in India, China and Africa.

The Times reported that organisers of the prize were currently "deep in negotiations" with publishers over digitising the books.

 

 

 

 

The Man Booker Prize hopes to place all six of its shortlisted novels online for free. Organisers are currently deep in negotiations with publishers over digitising the books, The Times reports.

Booker Prize foundation chair Jonathan Taylor said the initiative is "well advanced", according to the newspaper, although details are still being thrashed out.

Robin Robertson, deputy publishing director at Jonathan Cape, told the Times that a partial reproduction rather than an entire book would be preferable.

Cape publishes this year's winner, Anne Enright, whose bleak family saga The Gathering took the prize on Tuesday night.

Man Booker Prize