The Costa Book Award is an award recognising UK and Irish - based authors. It is one of the UK's most prestigious literary prices.
There are five categories: First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book. One of those is than chosen as the overall winner.
Last night, the 2013 winner was announced, and the overall winner is:
Nathan Filer with his debut novel 'The Shock of the Fall'
The author is a mental health nurse and the book tells the story of Matthew from aged 5 to his early 20's. Matthew experiences the death of his brother, and is diagnosed with schizophrenia, eventually being detained in a mental health institution.
I have not read the book, so cannot offer a full review here, but this definitely sounds like a book which would interest me. Mental health issues still have a big stigma attached in society, and anything which can help understanding I think can only be a good thing.
Nathan Filer with his Costa award-winning book. Photograph: Tal Cohen/EPA
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