Irish author Sebastian Barry has won the Costa Novel Award for his book 'The Secret Scripture'.
The Costa Awards, formerly the Whitbread Prize, "recognise the most enjoyable books of the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland".
The judges said of Barry's book: "This exquisitely written love story takes you on an unforgettable journey - you won't read a better book this year."
Barry's book, which was shortlisted last year for the Man Booker Prize, will now go forward for the Costa Book of the Year award, which will be announced later this month.
He is joined on the Book of the Year shortlist by: Sadie Jones ('The Outcast', First Novel Award winner); Diana Athill ('Somewhere towards the End', Costa Biography Award winner); Adam Foulds ('Kenya, The Broken Word', Poetry Award winner) and Michelle Magorian ('Just Henry', Children's Book Award winner).
Bookmakers William Hill declared Barry the 2-1 favourite to win the overall award.
