Hilary Mantel wins Man Booker for 'Wolf Hall'

London, Oct 7: 57-year-old British novelist, Hilary Mantel received the prestigious 2009 Man Booker prize for fiction on Tuesday, Oct 6 for her 16th century tale titled 'Wolf Hall'.

Excelling over other great writers of the day such as A S Byatt, J M Coetzee, Adam Foulds, Simon Mawer and Sarah Waters, Mantel received 50,000 pounds as prize in what is one of the most prestigious literary prizes.

While accepting the award, Mantel who likened the experience of winning the Booker to being in a train crash said that she felt like she was "happily flying through the air".

Speaking about the book, Mantel said, "I couldn't begin until I felt secure 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."

Set in 1520s, the novel 'Wolf Hall' tells the tale of Thomas Cromwell's rise in the Tudor court.

OneIndia News