Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel dies, aged 70

Friends, fans and fellow writers are paying tribute to Hilary Mantel this morning, following news that the acclaimed writer has died, aged 70.

Her publisher 4th Estate, an imprint of HarperCollins,  announced that Mantel died "suddenly yet peacefully yesterday, surrounded by close family and friends".

Over the course of a remarkable career, the author won two Booker Prizes, for 2009 novel Wolf Hall, and 2012's Bring Up The Bodies. In 2006 she was awarded a CBE, and in 2014 she was appointed DBE.

In their statement, 4th Estate described Mantel as "one of the greatest English novelists of this century", and said she "will always be remembered as a truly original writer."

Last year, in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, she said she planed to seek Irish citizenship, to "become a European again" after Brexit.

The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, is among those who have paid tribute.

"Such terribly sad news," she wrote on Twitter. "It is impossible to overstate the significance of the literary legacy Hilary Mantel leaves behind. Her brilliant Wolf Hall trilogy was the crowning achievement in an outstanding body of work. Rest in peace."

Irish writer Nuala O'Connor has stated that Mantel as was "a true heroine" for her: "I loved her work and her left-of-field, intricate views on writing".

See more tributes below:

Everyone at the Booker Prizes is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Hilary Mantel, four-time Booker Prize nominee and winner in 2009 and 2012. We send our sincere condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.

— The Booker Prizes (@TheBookerPrizes) September 23, 2022

Hilary Mantel's mind was one of the most powerful and magic machines on Earth. We were lucky she wrote as much as she did, but holy hell, it's devastating that we've collectively lost something so astonishing.

— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) September 23, 2022

I cannot believe the news about Hilary Mantel. With every book she redefined what words can do. She’s the only person I ever interviewed that speaks in whole, flawless paragraphs. I can’t believe we won’t have another book from her. Thinking of her family and friends. Such a loss

— Damian Barr (@Damian_Barr) September 23, 2022

We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dame Hilary Mantel and would like to extend our sympathies to her friends, family and all at @4thEstateBooks. It has been one of our greatest pleasures to be so closely involved in such an impressive body of work. She was a genius. pic.twitter.com/S7EL0pNpFe

— Waterstones (@Waterstones) September 23, 2022