01 February 2017
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Jess Kidd
The Irish novelist won his second Book of the Year Award for Days Without End
The Irish novelist won his second Book of the Year Award for Days Without End
Sebastian also won the Costa Book of the Year Award in 2008 for The Secret Scripture. He's the first novelist to have won the overall Book of the Year Award twice. Poets Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes are the only other two writers to have won the Costa double.
Days Without End is Sebastian's seventh novel. He was awarded the £30,000 prize at a ceremony at Quaglino's in London last night. Professor Kate Williams, chair of the final judges, said: 'We all loved this magnificent, searing, thrilling book – brutal, terrifying yet with moments of light and beauty. Brilliant writing that takes you to the depths and the heights of humanity, and a voice you simply can’t forget.'
• At the same ceremony, the £3,500 Costa Short Story Award was presented to Jess Kidd for Dirty Little Fishes. Jess is a debut novelist whose first book, Himself, was published by Canongate in October last year.
Watch Costa's lovely video capturing all the excitement and emotion below
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