Gives us all hope . . .
Dogged postie wins first novel prize
· Acclaim for What Was Lost after 14 rejections
· Five named in battle for top literary award
Mark Brown, arts correspondent
Thursday January 3, 2008
The Guardian
All disheartened, kicked-in-the-teeth aspiring novelists should take heart: after being rejected by 14 literary agents, the 15th said yes, and former postwoman Catherine O'Flynn yesterday made off with one of the year's most prestigious literary prizes.
Her novel, What Was Lost, was named winner of the 2007 Costa first novel award after being longlisted but not winning the Booker and the Orange prize and being shortlisted for the Guardian's first book award. O'Flynn said: "I hope it does give people hope. It's very hard to get published and it's hard if you go in there with this burning ambition. I didn't have that, I was protected by my natural pessimism."
The judges described What Was Lost, based around the endless corridors and CCTV world of a city shopping centre, as an extraordinary book. "A formidable novel blending humour and pathos in a cleverly constructed and absorbing mystery."
O'Flynn, 37, who has also worked in an HMV store, as a teacher and, briefly, as a mystery shopper - "a despicable job really" - was one of five category winners named yesterday in the awards, which were known as the Whitbreads until 2006, and which unashamedly celebrate enjoyable reads.
The only man to win was the historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, for his exhaustively researched biography Young Stalin, tracing the early life of the dictator.
He was yesterday also celebrating signing a movie deal with Miramax and producer Alison Owen (Elizabeth, Brick Lane and Lily Allen's mum) and the screenwriter John Hodge (Trainspotting, Shallow Grave). "If it's not done in Georgian, Johnny Depp would be perfect for the lead role," he said.
The project had involved seven years of research, including reading thousands of letters, endless visits to bureaucratically bizarre Russian archives and meeting people such as the 109-year-old Georgian woman who was at Stalin's first wedding in 1906.
"I think I've done Stalin now," said Sebag Montefiore, who is turning his attention to a history of Jerusalem.
The writer, lecturer and occasional stand up comedian A L Kennedy won the best novel category for her book Day, which was described by the judges as "a masterpiece" and made 2/1 favourite to win the overall Costa prize later this month by William Hill.
Kennedy, who beat competition from Rose Tremain, Neil Bartlett and Rupert Thomson, said: "It's such a funny climate at the moment. Getting this does mean you're at least more likely to be in the bookshops. There are greater numbers of a smaller range of books, we are trying to disassemble our culture and normally only an occupying force would do that. I'm more annoyed at things from the point of view of a British reader than a writer."
She is working on a script for a screen version, but has not signed any contracts.
Ann Kelley won the children's book award for her "rare and beautiful" account of the life of Gussie, a 12-year-old in St Ives awaiting news of a heart transplant. The Bower Bird is partly based on Kelley's own experience of losing her son Nathan 20 years ago, a week after a heart and lung transplant. "It was an emotional experience, but it was a bit like bringing him back to life, which was wonderful," she said.
Jean Sprackland won the poetry category for her third collection, Tilt, which has a strong environmental theme.
Each of the winners receives £5,000 and they are now in competition for the overall prize, which will be announced on January 22.
Judges' verdicts
Extract from What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn (published by Tindal Street Press), winner of the Costa first book prize
It was another barely breathing afternoon in Junior Three. Kate was looking out of the window at the maisonettes opposite where three mad dogs were terrorizing anyone who tried to walk across the scrappy patch of green and litter. Kate was frightened of dogs, though as she'd been bitten eleven times she couldn't see that it was an irrational fear. The estate was full of dogs - people bought them to make their lives safer, but it didn't work out that way. All the dogs had psychological problems: hatred of children, hatred of bikes, hatred of paperboys, hatred of black kids, hatred of white kids, hatred of fast-moving objects; some hated the sky and barked and leapt at it all day. The happy thing for the dogs was that there was always another dog who shared their psychosis and who they could join in a gang. The estate was patrolled by these packs of like-minded dogs, wandering the walkways and quads like incontinent, limping support groups.
The judges said: A formidable novel blending humour and pathos in a cleverly constructed and absorbing mystery. An extraordinary book and a superb first novel.
Costa novel award: Day by A L Kennedy (Jonathan Cape)
The judges said: Through an extraordinary act of ventriloquism, she describes the waste and eventual resurrection of a young life shattered by war. This book is a masterpiece.
Costa biography award: Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
The judges said: Everything you could ask for from a biography - exhaustive research, a compelling subject and a beautifully written narrative.
Costa children's book award: The Bower Bird by Ann Kelley (Luath Press)
The judges said: The world of life and death, beauty and truth seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl. A rare and beautiful book of lasting quality - we felt this is a voice that needs to be heard and read.
Costa poetry award: Tilt by Jean Sprackland (Cape Poetry)
The judges said: A great collection - crafted and delicate poems that tell us what it is to be alive now.
William Hill made A L Kennedy 2/1 favourite to win the overall Costa prize, to be announced on January 22. Sebag Montefiore is at 3/1; Sprackland and O'Flynn at 4/1; and Kelley at 9/2
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Dogged postie wins book prize
03 Jan 2008, 08:08
