Bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code, derided by critics and the subject of furious religious debate, has won best book at the British Book Awards.
Dan Brown, author of the book which has sold 17 million copies, said by video that he was delighted the novel had proved so controversial.
He missed out in the best author award - given to Sheila Hancock who wrote about her life with actor John Thaw.
And the literary fiction award went to Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.
Brown, an American former teacher who rarely makes public appearances, said of the quasi-historical thriller: "For the record, it is a novel."
BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2005
In the book, Brown wrote that Leonardo Da Vinci's painting The Last Supper holds the key to the Holy Grail - which is not a chalice, as traditionally believed, but Mary Magdalene.
It claims Jesus and Mary married and had a child and that their bloodline survives to this day - a secret kept by the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Archbishop of Genoa and right-hand man to the new Pope Benedict XVI, recently said: "It astonishes and worries me that so many people believe these lies."
In other awards at the 16th annual event, hosted by TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, footballer Paul Gascoigne won best sports book for Gazza: My Story.
He beat the autobiographies of Olympic stars Kelly Holmes and Matthew Pinsent, plus former England rugby coach Clive Woodward.
Former US president Bill Clinton won best biography for his memoirs, and actress Hancock was named author of the year for The Two Of Us: My Life With John Thaw.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Sir John Mortimer, creator of Rumpole of the Bailey.
The award was presented by a surprise guest - his actress daughter Emily.
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