LONDON, Nov 6 — British classicist Mary Beard has read and lectured about Homer and Virgil’s epics countless times. This year she embarked on an odyssey of her own: reading 163 works of fiction in six months to judge the Booker prize.

“I’ve never worked as hard in my life. I mean, writing a book is easier than that. It was a revelation and a privilege,” Beard, who is chairing the Booker prize judges, told AFP.

For the prize — which celebrates the best long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the last year — the panel of five judges whittled down 163 entries to a shortlist of six books.

The winner will be announced in London on Monday, with six authors, including previous winners Douglas Stuart and Marlon James in the running. The person who wins the Booker crown will walk away with £50,000 (RM271,695) and see their careers transformed.