Blurbs on books are 'embarrassing' and make readers feel 'incompetent', claims Man Booker Prize judge

  • Colin Thubron slammed blurbs as he announced Man Booker Prize shortlist
  • He said Blurbs 'blackmail' readers into blaming themselves for not liking a book
  • Thubron said gushing praises from other critics and authors made him 'cringe'

Colin Thubron, an acclaimed travel writer, hit out at the ¿annoying¿ praise as he took part in the announcement of this year¿s shortlist for the prestigious prize

Colin Thubron, an acclaimed travel writer, hit out at the 'annoying' praise as he took part in the announcement of this year's shortlist for the prestigious prize

The blurbs authors put on the back of books are 'embarrassing' and make readers feel 'incompetent', a Man Booker Prize judge has claimed.

Colin Thubron, an acclaimed travel writer, hit out at the 'annoying' praise as he took part in the announcement of this year's shortlist for the prestigious prize.

Thubron, who was longlisted himself for the Man Booker for To The Lost City in 2002, said some blurbs 'almost blackmail' readers into believing it is their fault if they do not enjoy the novel.

He even said the gushing praise from other critics and authors published on book covers make him 'cringe.'

While he read the titles submitted for this year's £50,000 prize, Mr Thubron said he had learnt to ignore the quotes.

'Blurbs are outrageous in certain places,' he said.

'There seem to be..., even quite well known people, who seem to earn their living making those blurbs and saying 'this is the most profound book of our generation.'

Blurbs are generally short, promotional pieces that are used to accompany a piece of work – usually from well-known critics, fellow writers or celebrities.

The author, known for travel classics such as In Siberia, Shadow Of The Silk Road and To A Mountain In Tibet, said he had seen one publisher give the same blurb for three novels.

He said: 'There are certain blurbs and authors' quotes, from other authors... which do raise your expectations... that almost blackmail you into feeling that you're either intellectually or morally incompetent if you don't love this book or you've failed if you haven't understood it... that if you haven't loved it, you haven't got the point. These can be pretty annoying.

'What other people think doesn't matter at all.'

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded each year for the best original novel written in the English langage and published in the UK.

In 2014 the rules were changed to allow novelists from outside of the Commonwealth.

To A Mountain In Tibet by Colin Thubron
Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron

Thubron, known for travel classics such as In Siberia, Shadow Of The Silk Road and To A Mountain In Tibet, said he had seen one publisher give the same blurb for three novels

On the official website it reads: 'The prize underscores Man Group's charitable focus on literacy and education as well as the firm's commitment to excellence and entrepreneurship.'

Six novels have been shortlisted for this year's Man Booker - 4321 by Paul Auster, History Of Wolves by Emily Fridlund, Exit West by Mohsin Hamid, Elmet by Fiona Mozley, Lincoln In The Bardo by George Saunders and Autumn by Ali Smith.

Fiona Mozley, a 29-year-old debut novelist has been shortlisted for this year's Man Booker Prize for a book she began writing on her mobile phone on her way to work.

The British writer is up for one of the world's most prestigious literary prizes for Elmet, described by judges as 'timeless in its epic mixture of violence and love'.

The winner will be announced on October 17 and Baroness Young of Hornsey, the chairman of the judges told the Telegraph there had been 'no fights – yet' during judging discussions. 

 

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