American writers dominate shortlist for Britain’s new literary trophy, the Folio Prize

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Copies of the books whose authors are finalists for the Folio Prize,are pictured during a photo call following a news conference, in central London, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014. The 40,000 British pound (some 66,000 US dollars) Folio Prize is open to any work of fiction published in UK in 2013. The eight finalists of the literary prize announced Monday, include five books by U.S. writers: "Schroder" by Amity Gaige; "Benediction" by Kent Haruf; "The Flamethrowers" by Rachel Kushner; "A Naked Singularity" by Sergio De La Pava; and "Tenth of December" by George Saunders. There is also Canadian Anne Carson\'s "Red Doc" and two books by Britain-based writers — Jane Gardam\'s "Last Friends," and Eimear McBride\'s "A Girl is a Half-Formed thing". The winner will be announced March 10, 2014 in London.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

LONDON – A new literary prize designed to find the best book published in Britain has a strongly North American accent.

The 40,000 pound ($66,000) Folio Prize is open to any book published in Britain in 2013.

The eight finalists, announced Monday, include five American writers: Amity Gaige, Kent Haruf, Rachel Kushner, Sergio De La Pava and George Saunders.

There is also a Canadian, Anne Carson, and Britain-based writers Jane Gardam and Eimear McBride.

British poet Lavinia Greenlaw, who is chairing the judging panel, says the American emphasis was a coincidence. She says when selecting finalists “we forgot about the authors and focused on the books.”

The prize, now in its first year, hopes to rival the Booker as the English-speaking world’s most prestigious literary award.

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