Irish writer Paul Lynch becomes the victor of the Booker Prize 2023 for his outstanding novel Prophet Song.

Paul Lynch, an Irish author, has won the prestigious 2023 Booker Prize for his dystopian novel, Prophet Song. The book is set in Dublin and portrays a family struggling to navigate a society plagued by totalitarianism. Lynch revealed that his inspiration for the story came from the Syrian war and refugee crisis. In his acceptance speech, he expressed his delight in bringing the award to Ireland and emphasized the challenges he faced while writing the book. Lynch worked on Prophet Song for a remarkable four years, starting shortly before the birth of his son. Esi Edugyan, the head judge, explained that the panel sought a novel that captures the current moment while possessing the potential to endure beyond it. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who spoke prior to the announcement of the winner, emphasized the transformative power of reading during her time in imprisonment in Iran. The other nominees for the award were also acknowledged. With a prize of £50,000 for the winner, the Booker Prize is highly regarded in the English speaking literary world. Additionally, each of the six shortlisted authors receives £2,500. Previous winners of the prize include renowned authors such as Margaret Atwood, Hilary Mantel, Bernardine Evaristo, and Salman Rushdie. The Booker Prize ceremony was broadcasted on BBC Radio 4's Front Row and live-streamed on YouTube.