By John Mack Freeman
Out gay Jamaican author Marlon James has won the 2015 Man Booker Prize for A Brief History fo Seven Killings. Via PinkNews:
Michael Wood, chair of the judges, declared James’ novel as the “most exciting” book on the literary shortlist.
The 680-page epic is described as “full of surprises”, “very violent” and “full of swearing”.
He admitted it was “so surreal” to win and dedicated the award to his late father who had shaped his “literary sensibilities”.
He is the first gay, Jamaican author to win the award.
Prior to winning the award, James discussed growing up gay in Jamaica and whether he identifies much with the gay character in the novel, Weeper.
“I don’t know if any of me found its way into that,” he told The Telegraph.
“But it was very important to me that there were gay characters in the book – to reflect the gayness and hypocrisy in Jamaica.”
