2012 Man Booker Prize overly populist. Whether or not as a response to this, the 2012 jury strongly emphasised the value of literary quality and linguistic innovation as criteria for inclusion. The winner was Hilary Mantel, an early favourite, for her book "Bring Up the Bodies", the sequel to her novel "Wolf Hall", which won the award in 2009. Mantel became the first woman, and the first Briton, to win the prize twice. A strong challenger to Mantel was established writer Will Self, who was nominated for the first time. Other shortlisters included second-time nominee Tan Twan Eng, Deborah Levy, who returned from a
2013 Man Booker Prize of 28, the youngest author ever to win the Booker. She was previously, at the age of 27, the youngest author ever to be shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. At 832 pages, "The Luminaries" is also the longest work to win the prize in its 45-year history. Catton is the second writer from New Zealand to win the prize, the first being Keri Hulme in 1985 with "The Bone People". The judges' final decision was made after around two hours of discussion. Of "The Luminaries", Macfarlane commented "It's a dazzling work. It's a luminous work. It is vast without