Anna Dempsey Wins Inaugural Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction

Anna Dempsey has been awarded the inaugural Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction, receiving £7,500 for her unpublished novel, *This Is About an Alligator and Nothing Else*. The prize, established to honor the legacy of the late Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel, aims to support unpublished and un-agented writers across the UK and Ireland. Dempsey, originally from Florida and now residing in London, was selected from a competitive pool of 2,300 submissions.

The Guardian

Uduak-Abasi Ekong, a Nigerian writer based in Manchester, was named the runner-up for her novel *A Kind of Resurrection*, earning £2,500. Both authors will benefit from mentorship opportunities, with Dempsey receiving a place on an Arvon Foundation residential writing course and Ekong attending an Arvon masterclass. The prize is backed by Mantel’s longtime agency, AM Heath, and aims to foster new talent in the literary landscape.

The Guardian

Dempsey's novel is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a water contamination crisis in a small town near the Florida Everglades. The narrative follows a young protagonist grappling with the sudden death of her father, which is officially attributed to a heart attack, as she becomes increasingly convinced of corporate negligence. Dempsey expressed her gratitude, stating, “Winning the inaugural Hilary Mantel prize is an enormous honour... my novel, in its own way, is a tribute to my dad.”

The Guardian

Ekong's work, on the other hand, delves into psychological horror, intertwining elements of West African folklore with themes of emotional trauma. The diverse range of submissions highlighted the varied styles and voices present in contemporary literature, as noted by Bill Hamilton, Mantel’s agent.

The Guardian

The judging panel for the prize was chaired by bestselling author Maggie O’Farrell and included notable figures such as Nicholas Pearson, Mantel’s longtime editor, actor Ben Miles, and novelists Chetna Maroo and Chigozie Obioma. Pearson remarked on Mantel's commitment to supporting emerging writers, stating, “Throughout her career, Hilary Mantel cared deeply for novelists making their first steps, and I feel sure she would have wanted to support these two exceptional writers.”

The Guardian

The Hilary Mantel Prize is set to be awarded biennially, inviting unpublished and un-agented writers in the UK and Ireland to submit an extract of 15,000 words, thereby continuing Mantel's legacy of nurturing new literary talent.

The Guardian

• “Winning the inaugural Hilary Mantel prize is an enormous honour,” — Anna Dempsey, Winner

The Guardian

• “Throughout her career, Hilary Mantel cared deeply for novelists making their first steps, and I feel sure she would have wanted to support these two exceptional writers,” — Nicholas Pearson, Judge

The Guardian

The establishment of this prize not only commemorates Hilary Mantel's contributions to literature but also paves the way for future voices in the literary community.

The Guardian