FILE - This Dec. 2, 2009 file photo shows Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., ranking Democrat of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Berman, a leading House Democrat closing out three decades in Congress says a new structure to provide U.S. assistance worldwide is long overdue, and he has a plan, unveiling a 923-page bill on Wednesday that would replace the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 with a framework for providing developmental and economic U.S. aid. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
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FILE - This Dec. 2, 2009 file photo shows Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., ranking Democrat of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Berman, a leading House Democrat closing out three decades in Congress says a new structure to provide U.S. assistance worldwide is long overdue, and he has a plan, unveiling a 923-page bill on Wednesday that would replace the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 with a framework for providing developmental and economic U.S. aid. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
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In this image made available by the auction house Christie's made available Thursday Sept. 6, 2012 the James Bond Aston Martin being chased by an Alfa Romero in a scene from the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. The Aston Martin V12 DBS coupe which featured in the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace" is the top attraction at a charity auction marking the 50th anniversary of the first 007 film, "Dr. No." Christie's auctioneers said Thursday Sept. 6, 2012 that the car, a 2008 model, is expected to sell for at least 100,000 pounds ($160,000) at an invitation-only auction on Oct. 5. Proceeds will benefit Barnardo's, a British children's charity. (AP Photo/Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation, Christie's) NO ARCHIVE
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This combo image shows first lady Michelle Obama as she arrives at the Inaugural Ball in Washington on Jan. 21, 2009, left, and Jan. 21, 2013, right. Michelle Obama made it a fashion tradition Monday night, wearing a custom-made Jason Wu gown to the inaugural balls. The ruby-colored dress was a follow-up to the white gown Wu made for her four years ago when she was new to Washington, the pomp and circumstance, and the fashion press. (AP Photos/Jacquelyn Martin, Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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President Barack Obama bows as he and first lady Michelle Obama, wearing a ruby colored chiffon and velvet Jason Wu gown, gets ready to dance as singer Jennifer Hudson, right, sings Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at the Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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President Barack Obama, waves as he walks with his daughters Sasha and Malia, first lady Michelle Obama and mother-in-law Marian Robinson, to St. John's Church in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for a church service during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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First lady Michelle Obama speaks with her daughter Sasha at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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President Barack Obama applauds with his wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia before his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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First lady Micehlle Obama arrives on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for the Presidential Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Win McNamee, Pool)
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The Dalai Lama, left, listens to one of his biographers, Pico Iyer at one of the sessions on the opening day of India's Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur, India, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. This year's festival will also feature author Zoe Heller and Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)
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Indian writer Mahasweta Devi delivers the keynote address during the opening of India's Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur, India, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. This year's festival will also feature author Zoe Heller and Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)
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The Dalai Lama speaks on the opening day of India's Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur, India, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. This year's festival will also feature author Zoe Heller and Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)
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People listen to the Dalai Lama, on the opening day of India's Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur, India, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. This year's festival will also feature author Zoe Heller and Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)
10 finalists named for international Booker prize
JAIPUR, India (AP) — American author
Marilynne Robinson, Israel's
Aharon Appelfeld and China's
Yan Lianke are among 10 finalists for the Man Booker International Prize for fiction.
The award, an offshoot of Britain's better-known Man Booker novel-of-the-year prize, is awarded for a lifetime's work. It is open to authors of all nationalities whose work is available in English.
Prize organizers said both China's Yan and Russian finalist Vladimir Sorokin have had books banned in their homelands.
Yan fell foul of the authorities with "Dream of Ding Village," about the AIDS crisis caused by HIV-contaminated blood, and "To Serve the People," which features a character who can be aroused only when his lover smashes images of Chairman Mao.
Sorokin, best known for "The Ice Trilogy," had his early books banned in Soviet times.
Other finalists announced Thursday at the Jaipur Literary Festival in India include Lydia Davis of the United States, Pakistan's Intizar Husain, France's Marie NDiaye and Indian writer U.R. Ananthamurthy.
Josip Novakovich — a Croatia-born Canadian writer — and Switzerland's Peter Stamm round out the list.
Academic Christopher Ricks, who chairs the judging panel, said the 10 were "astonishingly different" writers who range in age from their 40s to their 80s.
Previous winners of the 60,000-pound ($95,000) award include Canada's Alice Munro, Nigeria's Chinua Achebe and Philip Roth of the United States.
The prize, awarded every two years, causes fierce debate and occasional controversy. In 2011, British spy writer John le Carre asked for his name to be removed from the shortlist — he said he eschewed awards — and one of the jurors resigned at the choice of Roth as winner.
This year's winner will be announced in London on May 22.
Tags:
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