Young British writer's novel among Man Booker Prize favourites

The Man Booker could have its youngest winner late Tuesday as a novel by 27-year-old British writer Daisy Johnson vies with two other favourites for the 50,000-pound (65,000-dollar) prize.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes makes Johnson's "Everything Under," Canadian-Ghanaian Esi Edugyan's "Washington Black," and "The Overstory" by US novelist Richard Powers the three favourites from the six shortlisted works for the 50th annual Booker prize.

"Literary punters' late cash suggests there could be an upset this year, and it looks like Johnson is the one to cause it," said Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes in a statement.

Rival bookmaker William Hill also gives short odds on Irish author Anna Burns' "Milkman" and Scottish poet and writer Robin Robertson's "The Long Take" - which combines verse with photographs.

That leaves another American work, Rachel Kushner's "The Mars Room," as the sole outsider for both firms.

The prize is scheduled to be presented at a ceremony in London by Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Charles.

Philosopher and writer Kwame Anthony Appiah, the chair of the judges, said earlier that all six finalists were "miracles of stylistic invention."

"Each one explores the anatomy of pain - among the incarcerated and on a slave plantation, in a society fractured by sectarian violence, and even in the natural world," Appiah said. "But there are also in each of them moments of hope."

US writer George Saunders won last year's prize for his novel "Lincoln in the Bardo," which portrays 19th-century US president Abraham Lincoln grieving for his dead son.