YvonneThe IBW Books Of The Year Award, is a newly launched competition, as part of The Independent Booksellers Week.
The IBW itself, will be entering it’s fourth season in 2011 and more independent bookshops than ever, are expected to take part, with events taking place all around the country.
The IBW Book Of The Year Award for adult books, is chosen from a shortlist of ten books, selected by a judging panel of independent booksellers, from nominations put forward by publishers.
Participating bookshops showcase the short-listed titles in special promotions that run throughout Independent Booksellers Week, with voting taking place from May until the end of August. Winners are selected by independent bookshop customers who cast postcard or email votes for their favourite books.
The winning author receives a prize of National Book Tokens and a framed certificate, which is presented to them, at a prize giving ceremony, in their favourite independent bookshop, in the autumn.
The winner of IBW Book Of The Year Award For Adults is:
‘Wolf Hall’ by Hilary Mantel
“Lock Cromwell in a deep dungeon in the morning,’ says Thomas More, ‘and when you come back that night he’ll be sitting on a plush cushion eating larks’ tongues, and all the gaolers will owe him money.’
England, the 1520s. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is his chief advisor, charged with securing the divorce the pope refuses to grant.
Into this atmosphere of distrust and need comes Thomas Cromwell, first as Wolsey’s clerk, and later his successor.
Cromwell is a wholly original man: the son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a charmer, a bully, a man with a delicate and deadly expertise in manipulating people and events. Ruthless in pursuit of his own interests, he is as ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages”
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Hilary Mantel said the following of IBW and the bookshops involved:
‘Six months before Wolf Hall was launched I spoke about it in public for the first time at a meeting of independent booksellers, and the enthusiasm gave me a real lift – it was the first indication that the book was poised for success. Wolf Hall has brought me fans who have never read my books before, and also readers who don’t normally go for historical fiction. The support of individual booksellers has been very important in creating that outreach, and over my writing years I’ve become increasingly aware that a well-run independent bookshop can influence and inspire readers in the area it serves. Now that choice and variety for the reader has dwindled, and a few books dominate the market, the taste and discrimination of independent booksellers are more important than ever in maintaining a lively reading culture.’
