Winner Announced
Hilary Mantel has been named as the winner of the 2009 Man Booker Prize for her historical fiction novel Wolf Hall. The book is set in the 1520s and tells the story of Thomas Cromwell's rise to prominence in the Tudor court.
Mantel beat fierce competition from five other shortlisted authors including A.S. Byatt and J.M. Coetzee to win the £50,000 first prize.
James Naughtie, Chair of the judges commented:
Hilary Mantel has given us a thoroughly modern novel set in the 16th century. Wolf Hall has a vast narrative sweep that gleams on every page with luminous and mesmerising detail.
The Man Booker Prize is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the book industry and Mantel is now assured worldwide renown and a sure increase in book sales following this victory.
The Winner
The Shortlist
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To view the 2009 longlist, click here.
About the Prize
The Booker Prize for Fiction was first awarded in 1969, and Man Group plc was announced as the sponsor of the prize in April 2002, with a five year extension agreed in 2006.
The 2008 Prize was awarded to Aravind Adiga for his novel The White Tiger. The book has sold over half a million copies and is currently being translated into 39 different languages.
For a full history of the prize including previous winners, shortlisted authors and judges visit the Man Booker website at www.themanbookerprize.com.
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