Which Indian-origin author’s debut novel, We Need New Names, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2013?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Answer: NoViolet Bulawayo.
Explanation:
The novel We Need New Names was written by the Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo. In 2013, this novel became the first work by a Black African woman to be included in the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize. The mention of 'Indian origin' in the question is likely a factual error, as Bulawayo is originally from Zimbabwe; however, the Man Booker shortlist that year did indeed include an author of Indian origin, Jhumpa Lahiri (for the novel The Lowland). Bulawayo's novel tells the story of the struggles of a young girl named 'Darling' who migrates from Zimbabwe to the United States.
Additional Points:
Aravind Adiga: He won the Booker Prize in 2008 for The White Tiger.
Jhumpa Lahiri: Her novel The Lowland was also shortlisted in 2013.
Potential Exam Questions and Answers:
Question: Who is the author of The White Tiger?
Answer: Aravind Adiga.
Question: Who was the first Indian woman to win the Man Booker Prize?
Answer: Arundhati Roy (1997, The God of Small Things).