Great Regulars: After winning Germany's major award

the Goethe prize earlier this year, Syrian poet Adonis has emerged as the frontrunner to be crowned Nobel literature laureate next month.

Ladbrokes has made the 81-year-old, described as "the most important Arab poet of our time" by the Goethe jury, its 4/1 favourite to win this year's Nobel prize for literature, ahead of another octogenarian poet, the 80-year-old Swede Tomas Tranströmer, at 9/2.

from Alison Flood: Adonis declared Nobel prize for literature favourite

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Accusations of "dumbing down" were levelled at this year's Man Booker shortlist when the judges aimed for "readability" above all, but it turns out readability was exactly what the public were looking for after the six novels competing for this year's prize became the most popular Booker line-up since records began.

from Alison Flood: The Guardian: Booker prize shortlist breaks sales records

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