She was nominated five times for the Booker prize, but not even once did she win. Thus she came to be known as the "Booker Bridesmaid", even to her face. Her book "The Girl in the Polka-Dot Dress", to be released this year, will not be considered for this year's Man Booker Prize, because alas she is no more and the Booker does not consider posthumous nominations.
In her honour, the organisers of the prize have instituted a special "Best of " award. An online poll will be held to select a winner among her five earlier nominated novels (The Dressmaker (1973), The Bottle Factory Outing (1974), An Awfully Big Adventure (1990), Every Man for Himself (1996) and Master George (1998)). Who is this author?
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Beryl Bainbridge.