This year’s so-called Booker dozen—i.e. the 13 authors nominated for the prestigious Booker Prize—is history-making in myriad ways. Whittled down from 169 submissions, the longlist includes both the oldest person ever nominated (87-year-old Alan Garner, who will turn 88 on the day the winner is announced) and the youngest, 20-year-old Leila Mottley, whose debut, Nightcrawling, has earned praise from the likes of Dave Eggers and Ruth Ozeki.
“Really truly honored to share that Nightcrawling has been longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize,” the Oakland native posted on Instagram following the announcement. Nightcrawling—which Oprah Winfrey selected for Oprah’s Book Club—is inspired by a true story of corruption within the Oakland police, and follows 17-year-old Kiara Johnson as she tries to make a living as a sex worker. Nightcrawling is one of three debuts in the running for this year’s award, alongside Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie Mortimer and After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz.
Other points of discussion from the 2022 longlist? The number of American authors who made the cut—the Booker only began considering U.S.-based talent in 2014—and the volume of works from independent publishers (eight of the Booker 13 came via indie presses, with first-time appearances from Influx Press and Sort of Books). This year’s shortlist will be announced on September 6, with the winner following on October 17. See the full list of nominees below, and get reading now.
The Booker Prize 2022 Longlist
Glory by NoViolet BulawayoTrust by Hernan DiazThe Trees by Percival EverettBooth by Karen Joy FowlerTreacle Walker by Alan GarnerThe Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan KarunatilakaSmall Things Like These by Claire KeeganCase Study by Graeme Macrae BurnetThe Colony by Audrey MageeMaps of Our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie MortimerNightcrawling by Leila MottleyAfter Sappho by Selby Wynn SchwartzOh William! by Elizabeth Strout