LONDON, (Reuters) – Bookmak-ers’ favourite Hilary Mantel won the coveted Man Booker Prize yesterday for the historical novel “Wolf Hall”, edging out her nearest rival by three votes to two in the final phase of judging.
The 650-page account of the life of Thomas Cromwell had been heavily backed by gamblers, although organisers said the last time the bookies’ choice walked off with the prize was in 2002 with Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi”.
“Our decision was based on the sheer bigness of the book, the boldness of its narrative … the extraordinary way that Hilary Mantel has created what one of the judges said was a modern novel which happens to be set in the 16th century,” said James Naughtie, who chaired the five-member judging panel.
