British author Julian Barnes has been named favourite to win the 2011 Man Booker Prize for his book, The Sense of an Ending, following the announcement of this year's shortlist which includes two first-time novelists.
A notable absence from the six-strong list was Sebastian Barry's novel On Canaan's Side. The Irish writer had been included on the longlist, announced in July, and was considered a strong contender.
Barnes is joined on the shortlist for the prestigous £50,000 (€56,500) prize by fellow British writer Carol Birch for Jamrach's Menagerie and by two Canadian writers Patrick deWitt for The Sisters Brothers and Esi Edugyan for Half Blood Blues.
The judges' selection also included two first-time novelists - Stephen Kelman for Pigeon English and AD Miller for Snowdrops.
Described as a meditation on the frailty of memory, Barnes’s latest offering follows the exploits of amiable retiree Tony Webster and his attempts to understand the various turning points in his life.
Barnes once referred to the prize as "posh bingo" and berated judges for being "inflated by their brief celebrity".
He has been shortlisted for the prize on three previous occasions - in 1984 for Flaubert's Parrot, in 1998 for England, England and again in 2005 for Arthur and George.
Birch's latest novel Jamrach's Menagerie, which charts the exploits of a nineteenth-century street urchin named Jaffy Brown, is also considered to have a strong chance.
Another surprising absence from this year's shortlist was former winner Alan Hollinghurst for The Stranger's Child, who had been considered among the favourites.
Chair of judges, Dame Stella Rimington, said: “Inevitably it was hard to whittle down the longlist to six titles. We were sorry to lose some great books.
“But, when push came to shove, we quickly agreed that these six very different titles were the best,” she added.
A winner chosen from the six shortlisted writers will be announced on Tuesday, October 18th at a dinner at London's Guildhall which will be broadcast on BBC.
As well as a boost in book sales, the winner will receive £50,000 (€56,500) and each of the six shortlisted authors, including the winner, will receive £2,500 and a bound edition of their book.
