Vogue Contributor Receives Prestigious Literary Prize

VOGUE contributor, author and journalist Francesca Segal is the winner of the 2012 Costa Book Awards' debut novel category for her book, The Innocents. Inspired by Edith Wharton's scandal-infused The Age of Innocence, the tome is set in a north London Jewish community.

The Costa has five separate categories - best novel, biography, debut novel, children's book and work of poetry - and for the first time each has been won by a female author. Hilary Mantel scooped best novel for Bring Up The Bodies, which also landed the Booker prize in October last year. The shortlist also features a graphic novel for the first time - Mary Talbot's Dotter Of Her Father's Eyes - winning the biography category. Sally Gardner's Maggot Moon came first in the children's book section, while The Overhaul by Kathleen Jamie was named best poetry book.

The prestigious literary awards take place annually, with each winner receiving a £5,000 cash prize. The overall Costa Book of the Year will be named on January 29.

Read Francesca Segal's feature on refinding your signature scent here, taken from Vogue's December issue.