London-based Barnes, 65, was presented the 50,000 pounds prize by Dame Stella Rimington, chairwoman of the judges for the 2011 Man Booker.Barnes was the bookies` favourite to the win the prize.Announcing the winner from the short-list of six books, Rimingtonsaid at London`s Guildhall: "It is a beautifully written book. We thought it was a book that spoke to humankind in the 21st Century."
The other nominees for the prize were Carol Birch (Jamrach`s Menagerie); Canadians Patrick deWitt (The Sisters Brothers) and Esi Edugyan (Half Blood Blues); and debut authors Stephen Kelman (Pigeon English) and A D Miller (Snowdrops). Barnes was previously nominated for the prize thrice, but without success, in 1984 for `Flaubert`s Parrot`, in 1998 for `England, England` and in 2005 for `Arthur and George`.
Rimington said: "Julian Barnes` `The Sense of an Ending` has the markings of a classic of English Literature. It is exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading." Barnes is the author of 10 previous novels, three books of short stories and three collections of journalism. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages.