The book, now being adapted into a series by Working Title Films – the same studios behind Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually – was named the best biography at the Costa Book Awards.

The category win follows Preston’s success with A Very English Scandal, which was adapted into a BBC series featuring Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe, the disgraced Liberal leader.

The former Telegraph journalist has also enjoyed success with The Dig, a historical novel based on the discovery of the Sutton Hoo ship burial, which was turned into a Netflix film starring Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes.

Fall is in contention with four other Costa category winners to be named as the overall book of the year, with the winning title to be decided by a panel led by Reeta Chakrabarti, the BBC newsreader, and which also includes Judy Murray, the tennis coach and mother of Andy.

The overall winner will be announced at an awards ceremony on February 1, and will receive a prize of £30,000.