Last votes for Big Read

LONDON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Voting closes Thursday at 6 p.m. for Britain's Big Read competition to find the nation's best-loved novel.

The BBC's Big Read began the search in April, asking readers across the country to nominate their favorite books.

The result was overwhelming, with votes pouring in from all over the country. British readers now are asked to phone in their vote for the best novel among the top 21 nominated.

The phone vote will re-open on Saturday at 9 p.m. for the final.

The Big Read was a windfall for publishers and booksellers alike. Waterstone's -- Britain's largest bookseller -- has sold over 1 million Big Read books, and Penguin's backlist saw an unprecedented boost.

The publisher had 45 of the top 100 books and nine of the top 21. Without the Big Read and a new Harry Potter for next year, booksellers are worried about future sales.

Penguin General Manager Helen Fraser described the Big Read as "the most imaginative and clever way of getting people to read I can remember."

Fighting for first place are Penguin's Jane Austen classic "Pride and Prejudice" and HarperCollins' "Lord of the Rings" by Tolkien.