Rediff

London, Jul 10: Salman Rushdie was named winner of the Best of the Booker award for Midnight's Children.

Midnight's Children won the Booker Prize in 1981. It was then chosen as the Booker of Bookers in 1993 -- the only other time a celebratory prize has been awarded.

The Best of the Booker shortlist was selected by a panel of judges -- the biographer, novelist and critic Victoria Glendinning (chair), writer and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, and John Mullan, Professor of English at University College, London. The decision then went to a public poll.

When voting closed on July 8, over 7,800 people had voted (online and SMS) for the six shortlisted titles, with 36 percent voting for Midnight's Children. Votes flooded in from across the world.

Victoria Glendinning said: 'The readers have spoken -- in their thousands. And we do believe that they have made the right choice.'

Salman Rushdie, on tour in America with his latest novel The Enchantress of Florence, was unable to attend the event and instead sent his thanks via a pre-recorded message. His sons, Zafar and Milan, were in attendance at the award ceremony at the Southbank Centre to receive the custom-made trophy.

Salman Rushdie comments, 'Marvellous news! I'm absolutely delighted and would like to thank all those readers around the world who voted for Midnight's Children.'