Four deceased authors have made a shortlist of six writers whose books are being considered for a “lost” Booker Prize that dates back 40 years. The Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards, was originally given to a book published in the previous year but since 1971 it has been given to the best novel of the current year, so books published in 1970 were never eligible. To redress this, organizers of the award drew up a list of 21 books from 1970 which an expert panel has whittled down to six. The public will decide the winner by voting on the Man Booker Prize website, with the winner to be announced on May 19. The shortlist is: Nina Bawden – The Birds on the Trees J. G. Farrell – Troubles Shirley Hazzard – The Bay of Noon Mary Renault – Fire From Heaven Muriel Spark – The Driver's Seat Patrick White – The Vivisector The award could come too late for four authors on the list. Farrell died in 1979, Renault died in 1983, Spark died in 2006 and White died in 1990.