Lebanese-born author Rawi Hage has won the world's richest literary prize, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, in Dublin today.
Hage won the €100,000 award for his debut 'De Niro's Game', which tells the story of two boys who have grown up in Beirut.
The IMPAC judges said the book was "an eloquent, forthright and at times beautifully written first novel".
They continued: "Ringing with insight and authenticity the novel shows how war can envelope lives. It's a game where there are no winners, just degrees of survival. It's a wonderful debut and a deserving winner."
Reacting to his win, Hage said: "I am a fortunate man. After a long journey of war, displacement and separation, I feel that I am one of the few wanderers who is privileged enough to have been rewarded, and for that I am very grateful."
Irish writer Patrick McCabe was on the shortlist for his book 'Winterwood'.
Also nominated were: Yasmina Khadra for 'The Attack'; Sayed Kashua for 'Let it be Morning'; Andrei Makine for 'The Woman Who Waited'; Yasmine Gooneratne for 'The Sweet & Simple Kind'; Gail Jones for 'Dreams of Speaking' and Javier Cercas for 'The Speed of Light'.
