2014 Man Booker Prize Readings, Southbank Centre

This prestigious literary prize is awarded to an original novel written in the English language that shows excellence. For over 40 years only commonwealth and Irish writers were eligible, until a change of rules this year enfranchised American writers. Contrary to panicked predictions, the resultant long list was by no means dominated by stateside novels, though, contentiously, only three of the 13 contenders are female. 

This imbalance is somewhat readdressed in the shortlist: British Heavyweight Ali Smith has been shortlisted twice before and the breathtaking ingenuity of How to be Both has sparked predictions that this year could be third time lucky. Howard Jacobson (currently the bookies'  favourite) has won the Booker once before, and is in the running again for the thought-provoking J. Neel Mukherjee's The Lives of Others gives a touchingly tender portrait of a family life in Calcutta. Australian Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North, is a vividly engaging exploration of the prisoners of war working in Burma. Following the rule change, two Americans made the cut:  Karen Joy Fowler, whose unforgettable We Are All Comepletely Beside Ourselves is as refreshingly readable as it is artfully written; and Joshua Ferris (the youngest of the nominees at 39) for the darkly comic To Rise Again at a Decent Hour.

The judges, writer, philosopher academic and founder of the New College of Humanities, A.C Grayling describes the shortlist in terms of breadth and variety of themes and genres: "these six exceptional books take the reader on journeys around the world, between the UK, New York, Thailand, Italy, Calcutta and times past, present and future." Grayling stated. "We had a lengthy and intensive debate to whittle the list down to these six.  It is a strong, thought-provoking shortlist which we believe demonstrates the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English."

In this evenings of readings and discussions Grayling will be joined by his fellow judges, Jonathan Bate, Sarah Churchwell, Dr Alaistair Niven, Dr Daniel Glaser and Erica Wagne to reflect upon the diverse display of talent.

The six shortlisted writers will also be there to read from their novels and engage in the conversation.