Best Of The Young British Novelists 2003

Twice before - in 1983 and 1993 - Granta has chosen twenty writers under forty whose writing represents the best promise or achievement in British fiction. Twenty years ago that list included Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie, Graham Swift and Pat Barker. Who are their equivalents today?

In 1993, Bill Buford, editor of Granta magazine, decided to take another look at the state of British fiction and asked AS Byatt, Salman Rushdie and John Mitchinson (then marketing director of Waterstone's) to join him in choosing the next generation of Best Young Novelists.

Guaranteed to be controversial, 'Granta 81: Best Of The Young British Novelists 2003' features unpublished work from all twenty writers.