British author M. John Harrison has made literary history by becoming the oldest winner of the Booker Prize. At 81 years old, the celebrated writer was awarded the prestigious honour for his 13th novel, The End of Everything, published by Serpent’s Tail. The announcement was made during a ceremony held at Old Billingsgate in London, which was broadcast live, marking a significant milestone for both the author and the award foundation.
The winning novel is set in a near-future version of Britain following a mysterious, catastrophic event. The plot follows protagonist Phillip Tennent, who ekes out a living scavenging strange artefacts along the Kent coastline. These items are left behind by the iGhetti, enigmatic entities that arrived with the disaster. As Tennent discovers a shapeshifting object that he cannot retain, he is forced on a journey inland. The Booker Prize Foundation described the work as a “slyly satirical and unsettling post-apocalyptic adventure into the limits of human understanding.”
Harrison, who appeared visibly moved during the event, expressed his surprise upon receiving the news. “I really didn’t expect to be up here this evening,” he said during his acceptance speech. He reflected on the nature of the industry, stating that such prizes remain vital within a “landscape of industrialised fiction.” Harrison has also characterised his book as a satire concerning gentrification, while critics have noted its bleak depiction of an isolated post-apocalyptic England.
The judging panel, chaired by classicist Mary Beard, selected the winner from 163 total submissions. Other members of the jury included poet Raymond Antrobus, musician Jarvis Cocker, critic Rebecca Liu, and novelist Patricia Lockwood. Addressing the themes of the shortlist, Beard dismissed claims that the selection was focused solely on a “crisis of masculinity,” suggesting instead that the works provided complex reflections on reality, memory, and the future.
Harrison, a long-time figure in the speculative fiction genre, first sold a story in 1965 and later gained recognition as the editor of the magazine New Worlds. His notable bibliography includes the Viriconium stories and the Kefahuchi Tract trilogy. Over the course of his extensive career, he has received various accolades, including the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the Goldsmiths Prize. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2025.
In addition to the main award, which includes a trophy named Iris and £50,000 in prize money, the other five shortlisted authors were each awarded £2,500. The shortlist featured Marlon James for The Disappearers, Luke Kennard for Black Bag, Rebecca Perry for May We Feed the King, Elizabeth Strout for The Things We Never Say, and Douglas Stuart for John of John. Harrison succeeds David Szalay, who claimed the prize in 2025.
When asked about the message readers might derive from his novel, Harrison noted the grim nature of his setting but suggested that it might offer a sense of relief rather than closure. As the literary world digests this historic win, the author credited much of his longevity to the support he has received over the past several decades from his agent, his publisher, and his partner, Cath Phillips.
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