Meet the (Youngest) Man Booker winner 2013 - Eleanor Catton

New Zealand author Eleanor Catton won the  Man Booker prize 2013 for her novel, The Luminaries, a mystery novel set in the 19th century West Coast goldfields -a tale of murder set to the movements of the stars, published by Granta. Ms. Catton was born in Canada and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand. 28 year old Eleanor is the  youngest winner in the award's 45-year history. Eleanor Catton is the second New Zealander to win the Man Booker. She is going to get 50,000 pounds ($80,000) prize along with this award. 50,000 pounds ($80,000) prize. She is not only the youngest novelist to win the coveted literary prize, but has set a new record for the longest winning novel. The Luminaries is of 852 pages.

"I feel so proud and pleased that so many readers now will be going to Hokitika, metaphorically speaking", she said. The Booker is Britain’s most prestigious literary prize, awarded annually to a novelist from Britain, Ireland or a Commonwealth country. The winner receives £50,000, or about $80,000. Hilary Mantel for her book Bring up the Bodies won this award for the year 2012.

Important Points to Note : 

1. Youngest Winner (she is 28 but completed The Luminaries aged 27)
2. Longest winning novel (852 pages)
3. This is 45th Booker Prize
4. She is the 2nd New Zealander to win the prize (1st is Keri Hulme - The Bone People in 1985)