London, Oct 14: The winner of the 2008 Booker Prize, one of the world`s most prestigious literary awards, was to be named on Tuesday, with authors from India, Britain, Australia and Ireland among those in the running.

The annual prize, which goes to the best work of fiction by an author from the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland, all but guarantees worldwide readership and a spike in book sales.

Indian writer Aravind Adiga, who at 34 years old is the youngest novelist and one of two debutants among the six authors short-listed, was nominated for "The White Tiger."

His countryman Amitav Ghosh was nominated for "Sea of Poppies," while Australia`s Steve Toltz, 36, is the other first-time novelist on the list with "A Fraction of the Whole."

Irishman Sebastian Barry, who was shortlisted in 2005, made the cut with "The Secret Scripture."

Meanwhile British writers Linda Grant and Philip Hensher -- once a Booker judge -- were nominated for "The Clothes on Their Backs" and "The Northern Clemency" respectively.

The winner receives 50,000 pounds, while all the shortlisted authors receive 2,500 pounds and a designer-bound edition of their novel.

A total of 41 books have won the prize since it was launched in 1969, because the award was shared in 1974 and 1992. Contenders must have been published in the past year and originally written in English.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in London`s Guildhall.

Shortlist:

Aravind Adiga -- "The White Tiger"

Sebastian Barry -- "The Secret Scripture"

Amitav Ghosh -- "Sea of Poppies"

Linda Grant -- "The Clothes on Their Backs"

Philip Hensher -- "The Northern Clemency"

Steve Toltz -- "A Fraction of the Whole"

Bureau Report