Tan Twan Eng Declared as the Winner of Walter Scott Prize 2013

Tan Twan Eng, the Malaysian author was declared as the winner of Walter Scott Prize for his English fiction novel The Garden of Evening Mists. He got 25000 pounds for the prize. The ceremony was held in Melrose, situated at the Scottish borders. He won the award during Borders Book Festival which was held from 13 June 2013 to 16 June 2013. The prize was given to him by Duke of Buccleuch.

The Garden of Evening Mists is first novel by any overseas writer that has won 4-year-old Walter Scott Prize. According to the new rule introduced in 2012, authors from Commonwealth were made eligible for the entry into the competition for this prize.

The Garden of Evening Mists won over the strong shortlist which included Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. There were also other novels by English writers such as Anthony Quinn, Rose Tremain and Pat Barker as well as Australian author Thomas Keneally.

Tan Twan Eng on 14 March 2013 was also announced as a winner of the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize. He became the first Malaysian author to win the most prestigious literary prize of Asia for the same novel The Garden of Evening Mists.

About the Walter Scott Prize

• The Walter Scott Prize for the historical fiction was founded in the year 2010.
• It is a British literary award.
• With the prize money of 25000 pounds, Walter Scott Prize is one among the largest literary awards in the UK.
• Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch were the creators of this award.
• The winner of the prize is announced every year in June in Melrose at Borders Book Festival.

Eligibility for a book to enter into competition for Walter Scott Prize

• It is important for a book to be published first in Ireland, UK or Commonwealth in order to be eligible for this prize.
• Because the award is given for historical fiction, therefore a historical fiction is defined as the one where the primary events of the book take place more than 60 years ago.