Romesh Gunesekera
Encyclopedia
Romesh Gunesekera FRSL is a British author with a Sri Lankan background.
in 1954, Romesh Gunesekera explores aspects of his native island.
He grew up in Sri Lanka
and the Philippines, moving to England in 1971. His first book, Monkfish Moon, a collection of short stories reflecting the ethnic and political tensions that have threatened Sri Lanka since independence in 1948, was published in 1992. His novel, 'Reef' was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Gunesekera lives in London, but travels widely for festivals, workshops and British Council tours. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Asia House Festival of Asian Literature
.
He is currently one of the writers-in-residence for the charity First Story
.
Life and work
Born in ColomboColombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in 1954, Romesh Gunesekera explores aspects of his native island.
He grew up in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and the Philippines, moving to England in 1971. His first book, Monkfish Moon, a collection of short stories reflecting the ethnic and political tensions that have threatened Sri Lanka since independence in 1948, was published in 1992. His novel, 'Reef' was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Gunesekera lives in London, but travels widely for festivals, workshops and British Council tours. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Asia House Festival of Asian Literature
Asia House Festival of Asian Literature
The Asia House Festival of Asian Literature, is the first and only Literary festival in the UK dedicated to writing about Asia.The Festival focuses on the newest and best books about Asia or Asians in an annual series of talks and discussions...
.
He is currently one of the writers-in-residence for the charity First Story
First Story
First Story is a literary charity. It was founded in 2007 by Katie Waldegrave and the writer William Fiennes to improve literacy and foster creativity in young people through creative writing...
.
Books
- The Match – 2006
- Heaven's Edge – 2002
- The Sandglass – 1998
- Reef – 1994
- Monkfish Moon – 1992
Awards
- Sri Lanka Ranjana 2005
- BBC Asia Award 1998 for Achievement in Writing & Literature
- Winner Premio Mondello Five Continents Asia Prize 1997 (Reef)
- Winner of Yorkshire Post First Work Prize 1995 (Reef)
- Finalist Booker Prize 1994 (Reef)
- Finalist Guardian Fiction Prize 1994 (Reef)
- Finalist Commonwealth Writers' Regional Prize 1993 (Monkfish Moon)
- Finalist David Higham Prize 1992 (Monkfish Moon)
- Arts Council Writers' Bursary 1991
- Won the first prize in the Peterloo Open Poetry Competition in 1988
- The Rathborne Prize in Philosophy 1976
- Liverpool College Poetry Prize 1972