At 73, the novelist Bahaa Taher has weathered political purges and a lengthy exile from his native Egypt to carry off the Booker prize for Arabic fiction. The recognition is long overdue, says Maya Jaggi
December 2007
In praise of ... bookish judges
Leader
Leader: All sorts of people are qualified to judge books these days. Former cabinet minister Michael Portillo was yesterday named as the next chair of the Man Booker panel, while pop star Lily Allen will help judge the Orange
October 2007
It's time to ditch the prize guys
A cosy circle of critics? Nonsense
Jason Cowley
The final gathering
Giles Foden
'I wanted to explore desire and hatred'
Outsider Enright wins tight contest for Booker prize
