Jamaica-born author Marlon James wins Man Booker Prize

Jamaica-born author Marlon James has been named the 2015 winner of the prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction for his novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings.

The novel by James, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, focuses on the attempted assassination of Reggae legend Bob Marley.

He received about US$77,000 for the win.

He was presented with his prize by the Duchesss of Cornwall today.

James is the first Jamaica-born author to be shortlisted for the prize.

James was named among the final six last month.

READ: Marlon James makes Man Booker Prize final six

In the novel, James looks at what could have sparked the shooting which took place at Marley's home on Old Hope Road in St Andrew in December 1976.

The book chronicles the series of events told by ghosts, killers, members of parliament, beauty queens, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency agents, and the media.

Marley, his wife Rita, manager Don Taylor, and friend Louis Simpson, were all injured in the incident.

The Man Booker Prize is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original novel, written in the English language, and published in the United Kingdom.

The first award was made in 1969.