Why Extracts Matter

 

Every year, the announcement of the Booker Prize longlist sparks global curiosity. Which books will rise to the top? Which authors will redefine literary boundaries? This year, that curiosity is being met with a simple but transformative tool: free access to extracts from each of the longlisted novels.

An extract can never replace the full experience of a novel, yet it carries something vital: the rhythm of the writer’s voice. It allows readers to judge for themselves whether a book speaks to them, whether its style and subject feel urgent, compelling, or necessary.

For those who have followed the Booker Prize for years, the extracts serve as a starting point for deeper engagement. For new readers, they offer an entry into a world of books that might otherwise have felt distant.

By providing this access, the Booker Prize is reminding us of something essential: great literature is for everyone, not just for those already inside the conversation.