Shamini Flint
The indubitable Inspector Singh described in a short but glowing review in The Guardian as “portly, sweating, dishevelled, wheezing,” is the star of three books by author Shamini Flint.
Once a corporate lawyer, Shamini retired and chose instead to become a stay-at-home mum, writer, part-time lecturer and environmental activist. Also the author of several children’s books, the Singapore based author is the name behind the Sasha books.
Damon Galgut
Diagnosed with cancer as a six year old, Damon Galgut found himself confined to a hospital bed, fighting to survive. Describing it as “the central, cataclysmic event of my life,” in an interview on LitNet, the author attributed his determination to become a writer to the pleasure and escape he found in being read to at that time.
Though he made his literary debut at the tender age of 17 with ‘A Sinless Season’, it was only with the publication of ‘The Good Doctor’ in 2003 that he received international recognition.
Set in post-apartheid South Africa, it won the 2003 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa Region, Best Book) and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
His follow up novel ‘The Impostor’ (2008) was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. His latest novel, ‘In a Strange Room’ (2010) was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2010. Damon lives in Cape Town.
Audrey Kurkov
Audrey Kurkov reportedly wrote all his children’s stories while working as a prison guard in Odessa. Having formerly served as a Japanese translator for the KGB, he managed to get his papers changed to service with the military police.
Two weeks before the fall of the Soviet Union, he rallied friends to help him publish his first novel, and often took to the streets to sell it himself. Today, his sales are said to exceed 4 million.
Though he writes in Russian, his 13 novels and five books for children have been translated widely. Included among his best known works are ‘Death and the Penguin’ (2001), ‘The Case of the General’s Thumb’ (2003), ‘Penguin Lost’ (2004) and ‘A Matter of Death and Life’ (2005).
Omar Musa
You can check out Omar Musa’s style by simply googling the track ‘Hemingway’. Taken off his 2009 Massive Ep album, the video was shot on location in London.
Boasting a Malaysian-Australian heritage, Omar has won numerous awards for poetry and music, including the Australian Poetry Slam in 2008.
He published his first book of poetry, ‘The Clocks’ in 2009. He releases his second album ‘World Goes to Pieces’ in 2010.
Daljit Nagra
Citing influences as diverse as William Blake and Ray Davies, this poet is a master of ‘Punglish’ (Punjabi+English) and is known for lending his unique voice to the experiences of British-born Indians.
His first collection ‘Look We Have Coming to Dover!’, won the 2007 Forward Prize for Poetry. It has also been longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award. His second collection, ‘Tippoo Sultan’s Incredible Man-Eating Tiger Toy-Machine!!!’ comes out in 2011.
Pankaj Mishra
A dedicated traveller, Pankaj Mishra’s most recent books are the ‘An End to Suffering: The Buddha in the World’ (2004) and ‘Temptations of the West: How to be Modern in India, Pakistan and Beyond’ (2006).
His novel ‘The Romantics’ (2000) introduced the young Brahmin intellectual named Samar and won the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum award for first fiction.
Pankaj writes for The New York Times, The Guardian, and New Statesman, among other publications. Working as an editor for Harper Collins, he was credited with having discovered Arundhati Roy’s ‘The God of Small Things’.
Karen Roberts
Praised for her depiction of the 1983 riots in her novel ‘July’, Karen Roberts is also the author of ‘The Flower Boy’. Her second trip to the Galle Literary Festival comes in the wake of her third novel ‘The Lament of the Dhobi Woman’.
Born and raised in Colombo, Karen Roberts now lives in Southern California with her husband and children. Having seen some of it first hand, Karen’s work explores the sometimes profound ethnic and class divisions in Sri Lanka.
Orhan Pamuk
The first Turkish writer to ever win a Nobel Prize for Literature (2006), Orhan Pamuk has sold over seven million books in more than fifty languages. Pamuk’s critically acclaimed novels often touch on the deep-rooted tensions between East and West, while his outspokenness on matters relating to human rights and anti-fundamentalist views have won him both praise and criticism at home and abroad.
Upon its publication in 1995, his novel ‘New Life’ became the fastest-selling book in Turkish history. Following it with ‘My Name is Red’ (2000), Pamuk became the recipient of ‘the world’s most valuable literary prize’, the IMPAC Dublin Award. Pamuk’s other work include ‘Snow’ (2002), ‘Istanbul—Memories and the City’ (2005), ‘The Black Book’ (2006) and ‘Other Colours’ (2007).
His newest novel is ‘The Museum of Innocence’ (2010). The New York Times quoted him as saying, “I am essentially a literary man who has fallen into a political situation.” Despite rallies held to burn his books and having to defend himself in court, the author has enjoyed a tremendous following.
Prashani Rambukwella
The author of the charming ‘Mythil’s Secret’ and winner of last year’s Gratiaen Award 2009, Prashani Rambukwella is a graduate with a BA in English Literature from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Having acquired a reputation as a playwright and director, she is the author of two plays ‘Things that Matter’ and ‘Light Bulb’ which were both performed on stage at inter-university drama festivals.
Having made her literary debut last year, Prashani already has plans for Mythil that include more adventures.
Vivimarie VanderPoorten
One of Sri Lanka’s best known poets, Vivimarie VanderPoorten will be returning to the festival this year fresh from the release of her second collection of poetry ‘Stitch Your Eyelids Shut’ (2010).
Her first collection, ‘nothing prepares you’ (2007) won the 2007 Gratiaen Prize. She was also awarded the SAARC Young Poet award in March 2009.
Rajiv Chandrasekaran : Not coming.
Due to personal reasons, Rajiv Chandrasekaran will not be attending the 2011 festival
Log on to www.galleliteraryfestival.com for updates on the release of the programme and the opening of the GLF box office. |
E-mail
