Bookmakers William Hill have installed Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell as the hottest favourite ever at the long-list stage to win the Booker Prize. Hills have made the book 3/1 favourite and spokesman Graham Sharpe said, 'We have been inundated with people wanting to back this book ever since it was published and I am in no doubt that it will reach the short list and probably go on to win the Booker. I have never quoted a book at shorter odds at this stage of the competition.'

Hills make Nicola Barker's 'Clear: A Transparent Novel'; Susanna Clarke's 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell'; Alan Hollinghurst's 'Line of Beauty' and Nicholas Shakespeare's 'Snowleg' 10/1 joint second favourites.

Other William Hill odds.....12/1 James Hamilton-Paterson; Colm Toibin; 14/1 Shirley Hazzard; 16/1 Louise Dean; 20/1 Sarah Hall; Matt Thorne; Gerard Woodward; 25 Nadeem Aslan; John Bemrose; Ronan Bennett; Neil Cross; Achmat Dangor; Lewis Desoto; Justin Haythe; Gail Jones; 33/1 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Sam North.

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