Shock ending: how the Costa book awards changed reading – and pitted husband against wife - The Guardian

After 50 years, the prize has been scrapped. How did it change Britain’s literary landscape? And what happened at the awards when Margaret Drabble was seated next to Theresa May?

Margaret Drabble was a bright young star with five novels to her name in 1971, when she was talked into joining her old friend JB Priestley on the judging panel for a new book prize. Jack told me tha… [+9499 chars]

full article...