Rule-breaking Booker judges honour Atwood, Evaristo with rare double prize

FILE PHOTO: Author Margaret Atwood holds her new novel The Testaments during the launch at a book store in London, Britain early September 10, 2019. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

LONDON (Reuters) - Margaret Atwood's "The Testaments" and Bernardine Evaristo's "Girl, Woman, Other" jointly won the Booker Prize on Monday in a surprise double award in which the literary prize recognised its oldest and first black woman winners.

The authors will split the 50,000 pounds ($62,800) annual prize, the judging panel said. The award honours "the best novel of the year written in English and published in the UK and Ireland."