The Man Booker Prize has announced its winner for 2018, Irish author Anna Burns for her novel Milkman. The Irishwoman became the 17th woman to win the award in Man Booker’s 49-year-old history. Burns took home a cash prize of £52,500 (Rs 50. 85 lakhs). Her prize-winning oeuvre is her third novel, and it is a coming-of-age novel set in the backdrop of the politically-tensed times of Northern Ireland. The novel has received amidst great praises from the panel who elected her book. Irishwoman has also made history by being the first person from the country to clinch the award. Here’s what you need to know about Anna Burns.

Who is Anna Burns?

Anna Burns is a 56-year-old author, born in 1962 in Belfast, Ireland in a working-class district of Ardoyne. She was brought up as a Catholic. As of 2014, Burns has been living in East Sussex in England, on the south English coast.

She wrote her first book No Bones at the age of 39, which was centred on the life of a girl growing up in Belfast during the times of North Ireland conflicts, known colloquially as ‘The Troubles.’

The Booker isn’t her first achievement. Her debut novel also won her the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize in 2001 and an Orange Prize nomination. It was praised for its next-to-life portrayal of Irish life in Belfast and has been compared to literary giant James Joyce’s novel Dubliners. But her work was also criticised by Irish author and nationalist Danny Morrison who called it a “misanthropic portrayal of the nationalist people.”

She also wrote Little Construction in 2007 about a vengeful woman who steals a Kalashnikov rifle and goes on a revenge spree.

About Milkman

Burns’ award-winning novel is a story of a young woman’s romantic entanglement with a married man during the politically-volatile times in Northern Ireland. The book focuses on a “middle sister,” as she battles rumours of her affair, social pressures and politics, living in a closely-knit community. Some of The Greatest English Books Ever Written, How Many Have You Read?

The novel portrays the perils of a woman, living in a city during the times of war. The novel is also unusual in its naming of characters. The book uses designations instead of names in the book. She says, “In the early days I tried out names a few times, but the book wouldn't stand for it. The narrative would become heavy and lifeless and refuse to move on until I took them out again. Sometimes the book threw them out itself".

Milkman, published by independent publisher Faber & Faber, beat books such as Everything Under by Daisy Johnson, The Long Take by Robin Robertson, Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner and The Overstory by Richard Powers.

At the function, Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall presented her with a trophy and Luke Ellis, Chief Executive of Man Group gave her the prize money – a £50,000 cheque. Burns also received a £2,500 prize money for being nominated. When Burns was asked what she'll do with her prize money, she said, “I’ll clear my debts and live on what’s left.”

(With PTI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 17, 2018 04:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).