Dame Hilary Mantel: Booker Prize winning novelist dies aged 70

Her Wolf Hall trilogy has been translated into 41 languages and has sold more than 5 million copies.

Born in Derbyshire, she studied at the London School of Economics before living and working in Botswana and Saudi Arabia then returning to the UK as her career took off.

Always critically acclaimed, she started to find a wider audience with another historical epic - A Place of Greater Safety which was set during the French revolution.

She was awarded a CBE in 2006 and made a Dame in 2014.

Her agent Bill Hamilton, who began representing her in 1984, said it had “been the greatest privilege” to work with her.

He said: “Her wit, stylistic daring, creative ambition and phenomenal historical insight mark her out as one of the greatest novelists of our time. She will be remembered for her enormous generosity to other budding writers, her capacity to electrify a live audience, and the huge array of her journalism and criticism, producing some of the finest commentary on issues and books.

“Emails from Hilary were sprinkled with bon mots and jokes as she observed the world with relish and pounced on the lazy or absurd and nailed cruelty and prejudice. There was always a slight aura of otherworldliness about her, as she saw and felt things us ordinary mortals missed, but when she perceived the need for confrontation she would fearlessly go into battle.

“And all of that against the backdrop of chronic health problems, which she dealt with so stoically. We will miss her immeasurably, but as a shining light for writers and readers she leaves an extraordinary legacy. Our thoughts go out to her beloved husband Gerald, family and friends.”

Among those paying tribute was fellow novelist Philip Hensher who said her “kindness was unexampled”.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling hailed her as “a genius”.

Another tribute came from Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon who said it was “impossible to overstate the significance of the literary legacy Hilary Mantel leaves behind”.