Da Vinci Code book of the year at British awards

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, the novel which defied protests from the Vatican to become a worldwide bestseller, was last night named book of the year at the British Book Awards.

Its reclusive author was not there in person but a pre-recorded acceptance was broadcast at the star-studded ceremony in London where he stressed there was no truth whatsoever in the story of a plot by the Catholic Church.

The book offended some by describing how the church suppressed the marriage of Mary Magdalen and Jesus.

Brown, who offered no apology, said he was delighted the book had stimulated debate and had made readers question their beliefs.

He faced stiff competition from an eclectic list including Bill Bryson, Bob Dylan, Whitbread Prize winner Mark Haddon, Michael Palin and You Are What You Eat author Gillian McKeith.

The actress Sheila Hancock, who has won no awards in her long acting career, was named author of the year award for her biography of her husband, John Thaw. She beat last year's winner Alexander McCall Smith, Booker Prize winner Alan Hollinghurst and Dan Brown.

Michael Palin saw off competition from Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's story of their round-the-world motorcycle ride to take the TV and film book of the year prize with Himalaya.

Paul Gascoigne's autobiography triumphed over books by Kelly Holmes, Matthew Pinsent and Clive Woodward in the sports category while former US president Bill Clinton scooped the biography prize though did not accept in person.

Ian Rankin took the crime thriller prize and The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler triumphed in the children's category.

William Hague showed a Tory could win something by taking the history book award for his biography of William Pitt the Younger while Susanna Clarke was named best newcomer for her Booker long-listed novel, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

It was an extraordinary night for David Mitchell, the author of Cloud Atlas which was one of the favourites for last year's Man Booker Prize although he was eventually trumped by Alan Hollinghurst. Mitchell's intricate novel of interlocking stories proved a popular as well as a literary success at the British Book Awards by taking the literary fiction award and the best read of the year as chosen by the 50,000 viewers of Channel 4's Richard and Judy book club.

But Andrea Levy, another writer whose multiple awards have made her a popular as well as literary success, was scooped by Hari Kunzru in a new category, the Arts Council of England's decibel award for the black or Asian writer who has made the greatest contribution to the literary year.

Sir John Mortimer celebrated his 82nd birthday yesterday by being presented with a lifetime achievement award by his actress daughter Emily.

Martin Higgs, Waterstone's literary editor, said the success of David Mitchell, a former Waterstone's bookseller, was a fantastic example of the power of television to boost sales. It increased 1,247 per cent as a result of the Richard and Judy Show.

The Da Vinci Code as book of the year was no surprise as it had held the number one slot in the bestseller chart virtually since last September, he said.

"There can't be many people in the country who haven't read or at least heard about this book."

The British Book Awards are the publishing industry's equivalent of the TV or film Baftas and are in their 16th year.

- INDEPENDENT