Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel dies ‘suddenly yet peacefully’ aged 70 surrounded by close friends

• Wolf Hall author Dame Hilary Mantel has died suddenly at the age of 70 
• She was twice winner of the Man Booker Prize – first for her novel Wolf Hall

Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel has died at the age of 70. The bestselling author passed away surrounded by close friends ‘suddenly yet peacefully’.

Ms Mantel’s publisher, Harper Collins, announced the author’s death online in a statement.

She was twice winner of the Man Booker Prize – first for Wolf Hall, which sold 1 million copies in the UK alone. 

Its sequel, Bring Up The Bodies, won the Costa Book of The Year Award in 2012,.

The Mirror and The Light, the final instalment in the trilogy, was an instant number one best seller when it was published in 2020.

Ms Mantel was made a Dame by the Queen in 2015 for her services to literature.  

Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel has died suddenly aged 70, her publisher has said 

The Mirror and The Light, the third book in Mantel’s Cromwell series, was an instant number one bestseller on its release in 2020

Bill Hamilton, Dame Hilary’s agent at literary agency A.M. Heath, said it had been the ‘greatest privilege’ to work with her throughout her career.

He said: ‘Her wit, stylistic daring, creative ambition and phenomenal historical insight mark her out as one of the greatest novelists of our time.

‘She will be remembered for her enormous generosity to other budding writers, her capacity to electrify a live audience, and the huge array of her journalism and criticism, producing some of the finest commentary on issues and books.

‘Emails from Hilary were sprinkled with bon mots and jokes as she observed the world with relish and pounced on the lazy or absurd and nailed cruelty and prejudice.

‘There was always a slight aura of otherworldliness about her, as she saw and felt things us ordinary mortals missed, but when she perceived the need for confrontation she would fearlessly go into battle.

‘And all of that against the backdrop of chronic health problems, which she dealt with so stoically. We will miss her immeasurably, but as a shining light for writers and readers she leaves an extraordinary legacy. Our thoughts go out to her beloved husband Gerald, family and friends.’

A spokesperson for Harper Collins said: ‘We are heartbroken at the death of our beloved author, Dame Hilary Mantel, and our thoughts are with her friends and family, especially her husband, Gerald.

‘This is a devastating loss and we can only be grateful she left us with such a magnificent body of work.’  

More to follow.  

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