Which of the following authors has won the Booker Prize for fiction twice?

Introduction / Context:
The Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the English speaking world. While many authors dream of winning it once, only a few have managed to win it twice. This question tests your awareness of major international literary figures and their achievements, which is a common theme in general knowledge and competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The award in question is the Booker Prize for fiction.
• The question specifically asks about authors who have won it twice.
• The options list four well known writers: Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, J.M. Coetzee, and Graham Swift.

Concept / Approach:
South African born writer J.M. Coetzee is noted for winning the Booker Prize twice. He received the prize for the novels Life and Times of Michael K and Disgrace. While other listed authors are highly acclaimed and in some cases Booker winners, they have not won the prize twice. Therefore, the task is to match the correct author with this rare distinction.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which of the listed authors are Booker winners at all. Step 2: Remember that J.M. Coetzee is often mentioned in exam preparation material as a two time Booker recipient. Step 3: Verify mentally that Margaret Atwood, despite being a major winner, did not have two Booker wins at the time referenced by traditional GK questions. Step 4: Choose J.M. Coetzee as the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
Aside from recalling reading material, you may connect Coetzee with serious, often politically charged novels from South Africa and Australia that frequently appear in lists of award winning literature. This can strengthen your memory that he stands out in Booker Prize history.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Margaret Atwood: A Booker winner known for The Blind Assassin and later recognition, but traditionally not credited as a two time Booker winner in older exam syllabi.
• Ian McEwan: A celebrated British novelist and a Booker winner, but not a double winner in this context.
• Graham Swift: Another respected author associated with Booker recognition, but not as a two time prize recipient.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse repeat shortlisting with repeat wins, or they mix up multiple high profile awards like the Booker, Nobel Prize and National Book Awards. To avoid confusion, link J.M. Coetzee specifically with the phrase two time Booker Prize winner when revising literary GK.

Final Answer:
The author who has won the Booker Prize twice is J.M. Coetzee.