Jamaica-born novelist up for Booker fiction prize

LONDON (AP):

A novel by Jamaican-born Marlon James is among 13 contenders for the 50,000-pound (US$78,000) Booker Prize for fiction.

James' 'A Brief History of Seven Killings' was shortlisted from 156 entries, making him the first  Jamaica-born Booker contender.

Also selected are Ireland's Anne Enright for 'The Green Road' and British writer Andrew O'Hagan's 'The Illuminations'.

Two years ago, writers of all nationalities became eligible for the Booker, previously open only to British, Irish and Commonwealth authors.

Five American novels are on the list: Anne Tyler's 'A Spool of Blue Thread,' Marilynne Robinson's 'Lila', Bill Clegg's 'Did You Ever Have a Family', Laila Lalami's 'The Moor's Account' and Hanya Yanagihara's 'A Little Life'.

Six finalists will be announced September 15 and the winner revealed October 13.