The prestigious British literary prize, the Booker Prize, announced this Tuesday the names of the six finalists of the contest, explaining that they come from four continents and that their books address issues that affect us all.

Jury chairman Neil McGregor said in a statement that the six selected books deal with stories “set in different places and times in history, all of which lead to events that happen more or less everywhere and concern everyone.” we”.

The list of qualified writers includes men and women from four continents and five nationalities.

Brit Alan Garner was nominated for his novel Treacle Walker, making him the oldest nominee in awards history at age 88 on the day of the awards ceremony next October.

Small Things Like This by Irish author Claire Keegan, who won the Orwell Prize for Political Novels in 1985, was also among the nominations about a lumber and coal trader in Ireland.

The shortlist included two other novelists who had already been nominated for the Booker Prize, Zimbabwe’s No Violet Bulawayo with “Glory” and American Elizabeth Strout with “Oh William!”

Among the six nominees is Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunathilaka for his book “As Sete Luas de Maali Almeida”, set during the civil war in the writer’s country.

American Percival Everett was also chosen for his novel The Trees, which is about the 1955 murder of Emmett Tilly, an African-American boy in Mississippi.

Last year, the award went to South African novelist and playwright Damon Galgot for his book “The Promise,” about a family of white South African farmers undergoing change after the end of apartheid.

The preliminary list of nominations was announced in mid-July and included 13 writers. The winner will be announced on 17 October and will receive a cash prize of £50,000 (about US$60,000), in addition to the worldwide recognition the title brings.