Wolf Hall (by Hilary Mantel) wins the Booker Prize

angeliz2k · Oct 7, 2009

A historical novel has won a well-known literary prize. It's even set in Tudor times, which must mean its something extaordinary to stand out from the tons of material written on the time period. I haven't read it, but I want to soon.

Good news for historical writers, I tihnk!

[Here's a link to The Bookseller's news article on it, I'm sure it's also been other places.]

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/99127-hilary-mantel-takes-home-booker-2009-after-split-vote.html

lkp · Oct 7, 2009

This is so exciting. I haven't read this one, but I loved her A Place of Greater Safety (hope I have that title right) about the French Revolution. This one goes straight to my Christmas list. Thanks for posting it.

Carmy · Oct 7, 2009

Wonderful!

It's about time historicals got the notice they deserve. Most I've read are beautifully written and fascinating, but they aren't everyone's cup of tea. For one to win the Booker is extraordinary. Maybe the genre attract more fans now. I hope so.

Steam&Ink · Oct 7, 2009

Can't wait to read it

pdr · Oct 7, 2009

Actually...

All the short list for the Booker were historical fiction - in the sense of being set in historical times. I would have called them all historicals but Byatt's book has some fancy literary label. And all but two of the long list were also historical novels.

aruna · Oct 8, 2009

lkp said:
This is so exciting. I haven't read this one, but I loved her A Place of Greater Safety (hope I have that title right) about the French Revolution. This one goes straight to my Christmas list. Thanks for posting it.

My ex-agent once gave me that book (a place of greater safety) to read -- she reps Hilary. I never got around to reading it. Ugh. Stupid me.

scarletpeaches · Oct 8, 2009

I'm reading it, had it sitting here for weeks.

Not so keen. The present tense and all the telling-not-showing irks me.

aruna · Oct 8, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
I'm reading it, had it sitting here for weeks.

Not so keen. The present tense and all the telling-not-showing irks me.

Hmmm. Those things irk me too...

scarletpeaches · Oct 8, 2009

I'll push through, because the time period has always fascinated me, but if it hadn't, I'd put the book aside.

And i just want to be able to say I've read this year's Booker winner.

Now, present tense doesn't always bug me...in fact, I like it, but here, it leaps off the page. It feels like I'm reading writing rather than a story, if you see what I mean? I'm more conscious of Mantel in this book than Cromwell.

Wolf Hall (by Hilary Mantel) wins the Booker Prize

angeliz2k

never mind the shorty

lkp

Carmy

Steam&Ink

sekrit superhero

pdr

aruna

On a wing and a prayer

scarletpeaches

aruna

On a wing and a prayer

scarletpeaches