Irish author Paul Lynch has won the 2023 Booker Prize for his dystopian novel Prophet Song, which depicts Ireland descending into totalitarianism. The 46-year-old writer received the prestigious £50,000 award at a ceremony in London on Sunday.
Set in Dublin, the novel follows a family grappling with the collapse of democratic norms. Lynch said the book was inspired by the Syrian war and refugee crisis, and described it as 'not an easy book to write'. He added that he would use some of the prize money to pay his mortgage.
Reacting to his win, Lynch expressed 'immense pleasure' at bringing the Booker back to Ireland. Born in Limerick and now living in Dublin, he noted that the novel was completed 18 months ago, before recent riots in Dublin. He called the violence 'a warning' but stressed he is not a 'political novelist'.
Head judge Esi Edugyan said the panel sought a novel that 'might speak to the immediate moment while also possessing the possibility of outlasting it'. She praised the book for reminding readers 'that we are more than ourselves'.
Prophet Song is Lynch's fifth novel, written over four years. He started it before his son was born and finished when the boy could ride a bike. The Booker Prize is one of the English-speaking world's leading literary awards, with past winners including Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie.
