Bookmakers William Hill are taking no chances, making Rushdie the 6-4 favourite. Next in line at odds of 3-1 is British author Pat Barker for The Ghost Road, her World War I tale of a shell-shocked officer.

"Salman Rushdie is the obvious favourite as he and his book have become the Sergeant Pepper of the literary world", said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"He will be the kneejerk vote for people who have not read the book since it was published or haven't read it at all," he added.

Third favourite at odds of 4-1 is Peter Carey for Oscar and Lucinda.

Next in line at 5-1 comes Coetzee for his 1999 Booker winner Disgrace. The two outsiders are Gordimer's The Conservationist at 8-1 and JG Farrell's The Siege of Krishnapur at 10-1.

Photograph: Getty Images / Rosie Greenway