Eight authors on shortlist for rich literary prize

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Julian Barnes and Ireland's Sebastian Barry were among eight authors shortlisted on Wednesday for the world's richest prize for a single work of fiction in English.

The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award -- set up 12 years ago to underline the Irish capital's importance as an artistic centre -- is worth 100,000 euros (68,000 pounds).

Other contenders for this year's prize, along with Barnes' "Arthur & George" and Barry's "A Long Long Way", include "Shalimar The Clown" by writer Salman Rushdie, "No Country For Old Men" by America's Cormac McCarthy and "Slow Man" by South Africa's J.M. Coetzee.

The other books on the shortlist, which was whittled down from 138 titles nominated by libraries worldwide, were "Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close" by U.S. author Jonathan Safran Foer, "Out Stealing Horses" by Norwegian Per Petterson and "The Short Day Dying" by Britain's Peter Hobbs.

The prize, set up by Dublin City Council and the Dublin- headquartered U.S. management company IMPAC, was won last year by Ireland's Colm Toibin for "The Master", a portrayal of 19th century novelist and critic Henry James.

This year's winner will be announced on June 14.

Judges on this year's panel include Australian writer Carmen Callil, Lebanese novelist Hanan al-Shaykh and Belfast-born poet Gerald Dawe.