Set in Dublin, the book tells the dystopian story of a family trying to survive in a world where democratic norms have been thrown out of whack.
Lynch says the book was inspired by the war in Syria and the subsequent refugee crisis. It is the first time Lynch has received the award, reports the BBC.
The jury justifies its choice by saying that they were looking for a novel with a vision, which “reminds us that we are more than just ourselves, reminds us of everything that is worth preserving”.
Other nominees were Paul Murray for “The Bee Sting”, Chetna Maroo for “Western Lane”, Paul Harding for “This Other Eden”, Jonathan Escoffery for “If I Survive You” and Sarah Bernstein for “Study for Obedience”.
The prestigious British literary prize has been awarded since 1969 and is awarded each year to the author who, according to the jury, has published the best novel in English as the original language, regardless of the author’s nationality. The price sum is 50,000 pounds, corresponding to around 655,000 kroner.