Hilary assumes winner's Mantel...

Hilary Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' continues its incredible streak, winning the inaugral Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction. The 16th century based novel, which has already won the 2009 Man Booker Prize, was deemed 'immersive, constantly engaging, beautifully crafted, and compulsively readable'. Mantel, unable to attend due to illness, said that she was 'astonished and delighted and gratified', to beat off such fierce competition as Robert Harris and Adam Foulds. The prize was set up earlier this year by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, distant descendents of Scott, to reward novels set more than 60 years in the past. Mantel also wins £25,000.

History beckons...

A new literary award is to be unveiled, honouring historical novels in the name of the father of the genre. The Walter Scott Prize, is being set up by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, to 'properly honour' the author's 'immense achievements', and cement his place 'as one of the world's most influential novelists'. Scott's novel 'Waverly' is generally regarded as one of the first historical novels. Published in 1814 and set in1745, it is this work which is to define the term 'historical novel'; the parameter established as needing at least sixty years between the publication date and time period of its setting. The £25,000 award will feature at the Borders Book Festival in June.