J. G. Farrell
The Siege of Krishnapur
Weidenfield & Nicolson
J. G. Farrell used his winner's speech at the awards ceremony to denounce capitalism, as represented by prize sponsors Booker. Unlike John Berger he retained his £5,000 prize in its entirety for his winning novel, The Siege of Krishnapur, which depicted the siege of an Indian town during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Shortlisted authors
Beryl Bainbridge
The Dressmaker
Duckworth
Elizabeth Mavor
The Green Equinox
Michael Joseph
Iris Murdoch
The Black Prince
Chatto & Windus
Judges
Karl Miller (Chair)
Edna O’Brien
Mary McCarthy