Man Booker Prize 2011 - winner

18th October 2011: Julian Barnes has won the 2011 Man Booker Prize for his novel The Sense of an Ending. Chair of the jury, Dame Stella Rimmington, described the book as having "the markings of a classic of English literature. It is exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading".

This is the fourth time that Barnes has been in the running for the Booker prize, and in his acceptance speech he said he was "as much relieved as I am delighted" to win the £50,000 prize. And in a year when the shortlist was criticised for its supposed focus on 'readability', the selection of the literary Barnes as the winner may go some way to calming some of the publishing world's more disgruntled commentators.

"Frankly, it is utterly superb. It is easy to read and understand, and the almost conversational tone of the narrative will comfort and amuse, lulling you into a false sense of security. Ultimately, it is heartbreaking, thought provoking and in many ways sublimely perfect." Xavier Jones Barlow, Waterstone's Edinburgh