Shortly before this year's Man Booker prize was announced, Harrodian Sixth Formers, teachers and librarians gathered to review the shortlist and pick their own winner
Our English Department is always looking for ways to show their pupils how books matter in the world beyond the classroom and what better way to celebrate this, than the Man Booker Prize. 
Six of our Lower Sixth Formers (English Literature and Language students) -– Jude, Phoenix, Lily, Iona, Aggie and Amber – took up the challenge of digesting one each of the six shortlisted novels: Bewilderment by Richard Powers, The Promise by Dalmon Galgut, The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed, A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam, Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, and No-one is talking about this by Patricia Lockwood.
They each spoke passionately about their chosen books, reading extracts and reviewing them, showing a level of commitment and quality of thought, presentation and reflection that was outstanding; as good as anything you'll hear on TV or radio!
Mark McDowall, Teacher of English and one of the organisers of this event alongside our librarians, was impressed with the way that the shortlisted novels engage with current world issues, despite describing past events. 'Apartheid, capital punishment, Sri-Lankan civil war, the first female aviator are historical but the writers show how the issues surrounding them - inequality and injustice - are still relevant to today's society.'
In the discussion and debate that followed their presentations, the audience was left in no doubt - it was a clear thumbs up for the Booker favourite Dalgut's The Promise, which was eloquently and enthusiastically presented by Phoenix. Ela Carpenter, Teacher of History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, was particularly impressed with Dalgut's condensed writing style and both the precision and purpose of his prose.
According to the rest of the group, Great Circle felt too long and The Fortune Men might have benefitted from describing the impact of events from the viewpoint of loved ones while No one is talking about this, written in the style of a blog, was lauded as thought-provoking and chosen as the second favourite.
The winning book - The Promise - has since been announced.
All books on the Man Booker Prize 2021 shortlist are available to borrow from the Senior Library.