Hilary Mantel wins Man Booker prize for second time
History was made at the Man Booker prize last night as Hilary Mantel became the first woman and the first British novelist, to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize twice and receive £50,000 as part of the prize. For her novel, Bring up the Bodies. Winning the award, Mantel, 60, quipped that "you wait 20 years for a Booker Prize and two come along at once," adding: "I know how privileged and lucky I am to be standing here tonight. I regard this as an act of faith and a vote of confidence." Mantel's win also makes her the first person in Man Booker history to win the prize for a direct sequel. She is only the third double winner of the award, after JM Coetzee and Peter Carey. The book is about Thomas Cromwell, an adviser to King Henry VIII, and charts the bloody downfall of Anne Boleyn. When Sir Peter Stothard, chairman of the judges was asked if it qualified as a thriller he referenced The Godfather saying: "You can see as much Don Corleone in this book as DH Lawrence." Written and Presented by Ann Salter