Author Hilary Mantel has emerged as the hot tip to win the Man Booker Prize for her historical novel Wolf Hall.
Author Hilary Mantel has been named this year's Man Booker Prize winner for her historical novel Wolf Hall.
The book about Henry VIII's adviser Thomas Cromwell is William Hill's odds-on favourite at 10/11, the shortest odds ever given to a nominee.
Mantel, 57, beat five other shortlisted authors, including Sarah Waters and JM Coetzee with her book based on Henry VIII's adviser Thomas Cromwell.
Hoping to defy the bookmakers are five other shortlisted authors, including Sarah Waters and JM Coetzee.
The writer received the £50,000 prize at a ceremony at London's Guildhall.
The winner of the £50,000 prize will be announced at a ceremony at London's Guildhall on Tuesday evening.
Coetzee, who has already won the Booker Prize twice, is nominated for his memoir Summertime.
Previous awards
Sarah Waters is in with a third shot at the prestigious prize for her novel The Little Stranger, having been shortlisted twice before for Fingersmith in 2002 and The Night Watch in 2006.
The youngest author on the shortlist is Adam Foulds at 34 years old. His book The Quickening Maze is an account of the madness of the poet John Clare.
Simon Mawer is shortlisted for his eighth novel, The Glass Room, about an architect with an ambitious plan to build a house of glass.
AS Byatt is hoping for a second win for her novel The Children's Book, having won the Booker for Possession in 1990.
Chair of judges James Naughtie is joined on the judging panel by biographer and critic Lucasta Miller; Michael Prodger, literary editor of The Sunday Telegraph; Professor John Mullan, academic, journalist and broadcaster and Sue Perkins, comedian, journalist and broadcaster.
