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Julian Barnes with his Man Booker prize winner, "The Sense of an Ending."

It was fourth time's the charm for British author Julian Barnes, who was awarded the prestigious Man Booker prize for fiction in London Tuesday night. The annual prize recognizes the best novel by a citizen of the British Commonwealth.

Book critic David Kipen speaks with KPCC's Madeleine Brand about how Barnes has been shortlisted for the award three previous times, and he finally won last night for his eleventh novel, "The Sense of an Ending."

Plus, the controversy over the National Book Award finalists for young adult literature.

Guest:

David Kipen, book critic