Hilary Mantel

Winner of the 2009 Booker Prize for fiction Hilary Mantel with their book ‘ Wolf Hall ‘ poses for photographers following the announcement in central London, Tuesday. Oct. 6, 2009 . A tale of political intrigue set during the reign of King Henry VIII won the prestigious Man Booker prize for fiction Tuesday. Mantel’s novel charts the upheaval caused by the king’s desire to marry Anne Boleyn, as seen through the eyes of royal adviser Thomas Cromwell. Mantel’s novel beat stiff competition from a shortlist that included previous Booker winners A.S. Byatt and J.M. Coetzee. The winner receives a prize of 52,500 pounds, (US$ 83,500 euro 56,750). (AP Photo/ Alastair Grant)