Alice Munro receives International Man Booker prize

I / London June 26, 2009, 19:13 IST

Acclaimed Canadian short story writer Alice Munro has received this year's Man Booker International Prize.

Munro was presented a trophy along with the award worth 60,000 pounds during a ceremony at Trinity College, Dublin, last night.

The 77-year-old author is the third person to win the prestigious award, which is given every two years since its creation in 2005. Earlier, it was awarded to Albania's Ismail Kadare and Nigeria's Chinua Achebe.

Veteran Indian writers Mahasweta Devi and V S Naipaul were among 13 writers who were shortlisted for this year's award, which recognises a living author for his/her contribution to literature and to highlight the author's creativity and development on a global scale.

Speaking about her work, Alice Munro said: "Meaning is what you're after, resonance, some strange beauty."

Thanking the jury members, she said, "it is a wonderful shortlist; I would like to read every book on it".

"I am truly grateful, grateful especially to the judges - Jane, Amit and Afdrey."

Presenting the award, Jane Smiley, chair of judges, said: "the literary prize we are celebrating tonight makes us think of the world, and aim to be a prize that celebrates the writing of fiction as a world-wide phenomenon."