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Banville and Barry Booker nominees

Irish authors John Banville and Julian Barnes have made the shortlist for this year's Man Booker Prize for Fiction.
1 of 1 Banville - One of two Irish authors on shortlist
Banville - One of two Irish authors on shortlist

Also nominated on the shortlist for the prize are Sebastian Barry, Kazuo Ishiguro, Ali Smith and Zadie Smith.

The shortlist was announced at a press conference in London today, with the 17 authors on the longlist being whittled down to six.

The shortlisted books are John Banville's 'The Sea' (Picador), Julian Barnes' 'Arthur & George' (Jonathan Cape), Sebastian Barry's 'A Long Long Way' (Faber & Faber), Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go' (Faber & Faber), Ali Smith's 'The Accidental' (Hamish Hamilton) and Zadie Smith's 'On Beauty' (Hamish Hamilton).

John Sutherland, chairperson of the judges, said: "The selection of a shortlist, the judges felt, was an unusually difficult process this year. There was sufficient quality for two distinguished lists."

"This shortlist, we believe, witnesses to the remarkable quality of the current state of fiction. We look forward to the final round," he said.

The winner of the prize, due to be announced on 10 October in London, will receive £50,000.

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