23rd September 2022
I am so very saddened to hear the news of the death of Dame Hilary Mantel. Her contribution to the literary world was outstanding and I, like many of you, hugely admired her work. We met several times - most notably for the (then) Duchess of Cornwall’s book club, when we talked unstoppably about our approach to history and to fiction, the overlaps of the two disciplines, and our own rules of writing - until the camera crew insisted we stop!
She was an enthusiastic historian and a gifted writer. Over the years we have both steadfastly refused to rise to bait of rivalry - instead we enjoyed a mutual respect and admiration for each other. I’m sorry our plans to meet again are delayed - she, of all people, would see death as little more than a delay to eternal planning!
My thoughts are with her family.