Best Books of the Year
Menu

Booker Prize Foundation · award year

International Booker Prize 2020

The 2020 International Booker Prize went to The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld, translated by Michele Hutchison. 6 books made the shortlist and 13 the longlist.

Winner

  1. The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld, translated by Michele Hutchisonsource (opens in a new tab)

Shortlist

  1. Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie Hughessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyresource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Enlightenment of The Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar, translated by Anonymoussource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snydersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjaminsource (opens in a new tab)

Longlist

  1. Faces on the Tip of My Tongue by Emmanuelle Pagano, translated by Sophie Lewis and Jennifer Higginssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mac and His Problem by Enrique Vila-Matas, translated by Margaret Jull Costa and Sophie Hughessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Red Dog by Willem Anker, translated by Michiel Heynssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Serotonin by Michel Houellebecq, translated by Shaun Whitesidesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischvili, translated by Charlotte Collins and Ruth Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Other Name: Septology I - II by Jon Fosse, translated by Damion Searlssource (opens in a new tab)

About the International Booker Prize

Book-level years only: 2016-2025. The Man Booker International Prize (2005-2015) was a biennial award for an author's body of work, so it is excluded.

Organization: Booker Prize Foundation. Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2020

Shares the most books with