Bookies go for McEwan

Bookmakers William Hill was last night giving odds of 64 on Ian McEwan as favourite with Beryl Bainbridge second, at 5-2. Julian Barnes follows at 4-1: Patrick McCabe 9-2: Martin Booth 8-1, and Magnus Mills trails at 10-1. Bookies spokesman Mr Graham Sharpe said that while a lot of money would go on Beryl Bainbridge, he thought Ian McEwan would win. The final decision for this year's 30th Booker Prize will be made on October 27th and announced that evening in London's Guildhall.