Hilary Mantel Wins 2009 Man Booker Prize
This year’s Man Booker prize has gone to British novelist Hilary Mantel.
In a short-list lacking Indian writers, this year’s Man Booker prize has gone to British novelist Hilary Mantel for her fascinating 16th century tale titled “Wolf Hall”.
Mantel, 57, received 50,000 pounds as a prize money on Tuesday October 6, 2009 night in what is deemed one of the English-speaking world’s most prestigious literary prizes.
Other writers who made the shortlist this year were A S Byatt, Adam Foulds, J M Coetzee, Sarah Waters and Simon Mawer.
“Wolf Hall” is set in the 1520s and tells the tale of Thomas Cromwell’s rise to prominence in the Tudor court. While receiving the award at The Guildhall, Hilary said that if winning the Booker Prize was like being in a train crash “at this moment I am happily flying through the air.”
Hilary told the audience that it had taken her about 20 years to make a decision whether to write this particular book. She said, “I couldn’t start until I felt safe enough to say to my publisher – just what a publisher always wants to hear – ‘this will take me several years you know’. But they took it on the chin.”
Hilary added, “When I began the book I knew I had to do somewhat very difficult, I had to interest the historians, I had to amuse the jaded palate of the critical establishment and most of all I had to capture the imagination of the general reader.”
Chairman of judges James Naughtie said, “Our judgment was based on the sheer bigness of the book. The boldness of its narrative, its scene setting. The amazing way that Hilary Mantel has created what one of the judges has said was a modern novel, which happens to be set in the 16th century. We thought it was an extraordinary piece of story-telling.”
Hilary was the bookmaker’s favorite to win the prize. Ion Trewin, literary director of the Booker Prizes, said the last time a favorite walked off with the prize was Yann Martel’s ‘Life of Pi’ in 2002.
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction, first awarded in 1969, promotes the finest in fiction by rewarding the very best book of the year.
Liked it
Although I haven’t read the book, I feel that it was also the matter of taste from the judges and the work she put into it, was justified on recieving such an award.
A good write up on the event of the year.
Tim
A very nice review.As expected Hilary won the prize. It is also most satisfying;Thanks for sharing.
Great article!
Great article I have read this book, thanks for the review, enjoyed the read.
Interesting review of the book.
Thanks for sharing this info! good article!
great article!!
A better review than the one in the paper.
Great article, I enjoyed the post!
great review!!!
Good review!
Excellent aritlce,very interesting!It sure must have done a lot of research on Cromwell for that book!!
This was a very interesting article. I wasn’t familiar with the author or the book until now. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Oh! i want to get a copy of the book!
->I’m also not familiar with the author…
I haven’t read about the book and never known she exists. LOL
she’s deserving!