Bath Literature Festival: Hilary Mantel - I have absolutely nothing to apologise for
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel has insisted she has “absolutely nothing to apologise for” following widespread outrage over her apparent criticism of the Duchess of Cambridge.
The double Booker Prize-winning author issued a withering attack on those who “deliberately misunderstood” her remarks at a British Museum lecture.
In her speech, Ms Mantel described Kate Middleton as a “shop-window mannequin” with a “perfect plastic smile” whose only purpose was to give birth to the heir to the throne.
But Ms Mantel told BBC Radio 3’s Night Waves that her words had been taken out of context, and she had in fact been talking about the tabloid press’s morbid fascination with the monarchy.
“My whole theme was the way we maltreat royal persons,” she said. Ms Mantel speaks at the Bath Literature Festival at 8pm tomorrow evening.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments