And the Man Booker Prize goes to...

... Howard Jacobson for his novel The Finkler Question, making him the first author to win the prize with a comedic novel.

Of course, this means that Canadian Emma Donoghue's Room didn't win. But, congratulations to her, to Jacobson and to all the other shortlisted authors as well.

Although winning a literary award with as much international weight as this is good for any author's reputation and book sales, Jacobson will also take home the $50,000 purse that accompanies the notoriety. Not too shabby, really.

(Image shown the cover of The Finkler Question, published by Bloomsbury.)