LONDON (AFP) ― British author Julian Barnes on Tuesday won the Man Booker Prize, one of the highest-profile awards in English-language literature, at the fourth attempt for his novel “The Sense of an Ending.”

Barnes picked up the 50,000 pounds ($80,000) award, which recognises the best work of fiction by an author from the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland, at a ceremony in London.

He told the audience assembled at the Guildhall he was “as much relieved as I am delighted” after losing out in 1984, 1998 and 2005.

Barnes also referred to the build-up to this year’s prize, which was overshadowed by the launch of a rival award in protest at the apparent populist nature of the six-book shortlist.

He said: “I’d like to thank the judges, who I won’t hear a word against, for their wisdom and the sponsors for their cheque.”

The Leicester-born author joked that in moments of paranoia he suspected a “small cottage industry” was working to prevent him from winning the award after being passed over for his works “Flaubert’s Parrot,” “England, England” and “Arthur and George.”

Barnes, 65, was the bookmaker’s favorite ahead of Carol Birch, with “Jamrach’s Menagerie,” and A.D. Miller’s thriller “Snowdrops.”

“The Sense of an Ending” is the story of a seemingly ordinary man who revisits his past in later life and discovers that his memories are flawed.