Debut novel takes Whitbread prize

LONDON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Ali Smith's debut novel, "The Accidental," Wednesday won Britain's Whitbread Novel Award.

Smith's novel topped books by Salman Rushdie and Nick Hornby to clinch the 5,000 pound ($8,792) prize, the Financial Times reported.

Hilary Spurling won the biography award for the second book in her biography of Matisse, "Matisse the Master."

"The Harmony Silk Factory" by Tash Aw was winner of the first novel award; Christopher Logue's "Cold Calls" won in the poetry category and the children's book award winner was "The New Policeman" by Kate Thompson.

Smith and Spurling are front-runners for the top 25,000 pound ($43,963) Whitbread Book of the Year award to be announced Jan. 24.