Bob Marley-inspired novel wins Man Booker Prize

Published: October 13, 2015

The Man Booker Prize has been awarded to a novel that features the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in 1976 as one of its key events.

Marlon James' A Brief History of Seven Killings uses the true event to create a fictional narrative around the lives of seven men who attempted to kill the reggae musician. The story involves the aftermath of the assassination attempt and delves deeply into Jamaica's political history.

James is the first Jamaican-born novelist to be nominated for the Man Booker Prize and as the winner, he receives 50,000 British pounds or just under $100,000 Canadian.

According to CBC Books, James was completely surprised by the win.

"I was so convinced I wasn't going to win, I didn't write a speech," said James when he took the stage to accept the award.

In his acceptance speech according to BBC News, James talked about the inspiration reggae musicians played in writing the book.

"The reggae singers Bob Marley and Peter Tosh were the first to recognize that the voice coming out our mouths was a legitimate voice for fiction and poetry," James said.

HBO has optioned the book and James is currently on sabbatical from his English professor job at Macalester College in Minnesota as he works the screenplay. 

The other books shortlisted for the prize were:

Satin Island by Tom McCarthy

The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma

The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

 

 

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