Anthony Quinn's acclaimed novel Half of the Human Race (Cape/Vintage) is among the five titles selected for the shortlist of the Cricket Society and MCC Book of the Year Award 2012. The novel was selected from a longlist of 24 titles and is the only fiction title on the shortlist - Joseph O'Neill's Netherland was previously shortlisted for the award. The competition, run by The Cricket Society since 1970 and in partnership with MCC since 2009, is for books nominated by MCC and Cricket Society members and not publishers and is highly regarded by writers and publishers .  The winner, to be announced at an awards evening in the Long Room at Lord's on Monday 16 April, receives £3000.  A sell-out audience of 200 people will comprise members of both organisations, the shortlisted authors and their publishers, and many of today's finest cricket writers and journalists including members of the Cricket Writers Club. For more information visit: http://cricketsociety.com/  

Half of the Human Race will also feature on the More 4 TV Book Club on 1st April, repeated on Channel 4.