Social worker novelist Gaynor Arnold fails to make Booker shortlist

Social worker novelist Gaynor Arnold has failed to make the six-novel shortlist for the Man Booker Prize, which was announced today.

Arnold, who works for Birmingham Council’s adoption and fostering team, made the 13-strong longlist for the prize with her debut novel, Girl in the Blue Dress, a fictionalised account of Charles Dickens’ troubled marriage.

Arnold is in good company in not making the shortlist, alongside former Booker winner Salman Rushdie, whose novel The Enchantess of Florence also failed to make the final six.

In an interview with Community Care, Arnold said her writing had been influenced by her social work career, with Girl in the Blue Dress dealing with issues of family dysfunction.

The Booker winner will be announced on 14 October.

 

 

More from Community Care

Comments are closed.