• RELATED STORIES

• Lydia Davis wins International Man Booker

  American writer Lydia Davis...

• Hachette scores two on Desmond Elliott shortlist

  Hachette has two novels on ...

• Amazon to launch commercial fan fiction platform

  Amazon Publishing has annou...

• S&S scores hat-trick at Sports Book Awards

  Simon & Schuster scoope...

• First Edition auction raises £439K

  The auction of 50 first edi...

William Hill backs Hollis for Costa

19.01.12 | Benedicte Page

Latest odds from William Hill make poet and debut biographer Matthew Hollis odds-on favourite to win the 2011 Costa Book of the Year Award for his biography of Edward Thomas, Now All Roads Lead to France (Faber). William Hill gives Hollis odds of 2/1 to win the prize.

In joint second place at 3/1 are poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy for The Bees (Picador) and novelist Andrew Miller for Pure (Sceptre).

Not far behind are debut writer Christie Watson for Tiny Sunbirds Far Away (Quercus) and children's author Moira Young for Blood Red Road (Marion Lloyd Books) each put at 5/1.

The five authors have each already won one of the individual category awards and will receive £5,000. One of the five will be also announced as winner of the overall £30,000 Costa Book of the Year award next Tuesday 24th January, with London Evening Standard editor Geordie Greig chair of the judges.

“I can only assume the judges’ meeting will last for longer than ever before as this list boasts great quality and depth, and whoever comes out on top will be a very worthy winner”, commented William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

• Benedicte Page
• Costa Book Awards
• matthew hollis
• Prizes
• Todays Picks
• William Hill