Howard Jacobson is one of six shortlisted authors for the 2014 Man Booker Prize for Fiction, it was announced today.

The author has been nominated for his book J, along with Joshua Ferris, Richard Flanagan, Karen Joy Fowler, Neel Mukherjee and Ali Smith.

Mr Jacobson, who once described himself as "a Jewish Jane Austen", won the prize in 2010 with his novel, The Finkler Question.

Judges praised the “depth and range” of the list which was cut from 13 down to six and includes writers from Britain, the United States and Australia.

This year’s list was the first to be opened up to any author writing originally in English and published in the UK.

Chair of the judges, AC Grayling said: “We had a lengthy and intensive debate to whittle the list down to these six.

“It is a strong, thought-provoking shortlist which we believe demonstrates the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English.”

Judges will now re-read the titles and select the winner, who will be announced on Tuesday 14 October at a ceremony at London’s Guildhall.