If controversy spells cash, then the new backers of the Booker have already won. Britain's most prestigious literary award is currently open only to authors from the British Commonwealth and Ireland. It is not (and if some have their way, it never will be) open to writers from the United States. And that's what the fight is all about. The people now in charge have made the prize richer (no quarrel with that) and they are considering opening it to all English language fiction writers. In other words, Americans. Some say that would denigrate British literary culture and mean the end of exposure for writers from India or Canada. Others say, "Go ahead. Bring on the Yanks. Our Naipauls and Atwoods will take your DeLillos and Toni Morrisons any day." The Battle for the Booker. Bully.
