Former Man Booker Prize-winner Alan Hollinghurst is one of 13 authors up for this year's award.
A total of 138 books were whittled down by the judges, chaired by Dame Stella Rimington.
"We are delighted by the quality and breadth of our longlist, which emerged from an impassioned discussion," Dame Stella said.
"The list ranges from the Wild West to multi-ethnic London via post-Cold War Moscow and Bucharest."
Writer and journalist Matthew d'Ancona, author Susan Hill, author and politician Chris Mullin and The Daily Telegraph's Gaby Wood complete the judging panel.
Hollinghurst's novel is a century-spanning saga about a love triangle that spawns a myth – and a family mystery – across generations.
Bookmakers already have the author the favourite to win the award with odds of 5/1 over Barnes at 6/1 – who has lost out on the prize three times previously.
Last year's Man Booker Prize was won by Howard Jacobson for The Finkler Question, beating competition favourite Pete Carey.
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