The sixth International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for 2001 has been won by Canadian author Alistair MacLeod.
Scottish-born MacLeod, won the prestigious literary prize for his novel No Great Mischiefafter being chosen from a group of six international authors by a panel of five judges.
Candidates were narrowed down from 635 to just six in March and the judges, who have read approximately 92 books each in the past year, only made their final decision last Saturday.
The nominations were made from over 100 public libraries in 34 countries and were administered by Dublin City Library.
The other finalists included Irish author Colm Toibin for his book The Blackwater Lightship, The True History of Paradiseby Margaret Cezair-Thompson from Jamaica,Mexican author Silvia Molina's The Love You Promised Me, Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan's Our Fathersand The Clay Machine-Gunby Russian author Victor Pelevin's.
The non-voting chairman of the adjudication panel, Prof Allen Weinstein described No Great Mischiefas " a dignified spiritual examination of heritage, loss and re-beginnings" and congratulated Mr MacLeod on his "pitch perfect" writing.
None of the competitors for the prize were present at today's announcement and the IMPAC award, which consists of a cheque for £100,000 and a Waterford Crystal trophy will be presented to MrMacLeod on June 16th at a presentation ceremony to be hosted at Dublin Castle.
However, Mr MacLeod was contacted by telephone to be congratulated by Dublin's Lord Mayor Mr Maurice Ahern. Mr MacLeod described the IMPAC award as a "very splendid award for literature in general" which recognised the contribution of literature to the world.
Almost overcome with emotion Mr MacLeod added that "when an author writes, he is sending out letters to the world and it's nice when the world writes back".