Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel was a renowned British writer who twice won the Booker Prize for her bestselling novel Wolf Hall (2009) and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies (2012). She is best known for her exceptional talent in historical fiction and significant contributions to contemporary literature.

Hilary Mantel was born in Glossop, Derbyshire, England. She grew up in a working-class family, and her early education was at the local Roman Catholic primary school.

Mantel pursued a degree in Law at the London School of Economics. She graduated in 1973 but decided to follow her true passion for writing rather than pursue a career in the legal profession.

In 1985 Hilary Mantel debuted with the novel, Every Day is Mother's Day. It is a black comedy that draws inspiration from her personal experiences as a social work assistant at a geriatric hospital.

It was a promising start to her literary career, which eventually included 12 novels, two collections of short stories, a personal memoir, and numerous articles.

Her most notable works include:

A Place of Greater Safety (1992) is a historical novel that brought Mantel widespread popularity in literature. Set during the French Revolution, it revolves around the lives of prominent figures such as Maximilien Robespierre, Georges Danton, and Camille Desmoulins.

Wolf Hall (2009): The first installment in the Thomas Cromwell Trilogy was a milestone in Mantel's career. The novel, which portrays the rise of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII, won the Man Booker Prize in 2009, making Mantel the first woman to receive this prestigious award twice.

Bring Up the Bodies (2012): This sequel to Wolf Hall continued the gripping tale of Thomas Cromwell's political intrigue and rise to power during the Tudor era.

The Mirror and the Light (2020): The final installment in the Thomas Cromwell Trilogy continued the story of Thomas Cromwell's life and downfall. The novel was highly anticipated and well-received by readers and critics alike.

Mantel also won the Cheltenham Prize and the Hawthornden Prize, among others. Her reviews and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, and the London Review of Books.

In 2014, Mantel was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).

Hilary Mantel died aged 70 at Exeter Hospital from complications following a stroke.