News by Levels · Level 2 · Student worksheet

An 81-Year-Old Writer Wins the Booker

In this lesson: Connect the winning book’s length with the shortlist comparison.

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the story

M. John Harrison won the Booker Prize on November 9 with The End of Everything. At 81, he became its oldest winner.

The novel imagines life after a disaster on England’s coast. At 198 pages, it was the shortest of the six shortlisted books.

Source: The Booker Prizes, 2026-11-09. https://thebookerprizes.com/media-centre/press-releases/the-end-of-everything-by-m-john-harrison-wins-the-booker-prize-2026

Read and practise

1. What does shortest compare?

   1. The six shortlisted books
   2. Every book ever written
   3. The six authors’ careers

2. Where does the imagined post-disaster life take place?

   1. At the London ceremony
   2. Inside the prize office
   3. On England’s coast

Your turn

Explain what the two numbers 81 and 198 describe.

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/john-harrison-oldest-booker-winner-november-2026/level-2/