Shehan Karunatilaka’s ‘Chinaman’ wins Commonwealth Book Prize

Friday, 15 June 2012 02:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s Shehan Karunatilaka last week won the prestigious Commonwealth Book Prize 2012 for his “Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew” published by Vintage Publishing, Random House India.

He received the coveted prize at the Hay Festival by the multiple prize-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Shehan Karunatilaka (right) addresses the Hay Festival after winning the award which he received from the multiple prize-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is also present

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize was won by Emma Martin of New Zealand for her Two Girls in a Boat.

Shehan was born in Galle, Sri Lanka. He studied Business and Administration at Massey University in New Zealand, after which he worked as an advertising copywriter. He has also written rock songs, travel stories and basslines.

He collected the prize money of £10,000 (around Rs. 2 million) as well.

“It’s incredible considering where the book began. I wasn’t certain that it would be published outside of Colombo when I was writing it. I was surprised to make it to the final five, considering how strong the Asia shortlist was. To win it is quite crazy. It’s a privilege to be part of a global prize that has recognised so many great writers over the years. I feel deeply honoured,” Shehan said.

Commonwealth Book Prize Chair Margaret Busby said: “This fabulously enjoyable read will keep you entertained and rooting for the protagonist until the very end, while delivering startling truths about cricket and about Sri Lanka. Narrated by a retired hard-drinking sports journalist on an obsessive quest for the mysterious Pradeep Mathew, who may just be Sri Lanka’s best all-time cricketer, it’s an insightful story about fact and gullibility, about world history, about friends and family; and it comes with this attestable guarantee: “If you’ve never seen a cricket match; if you have and it has made you snore; if you can’t understand why anyone would watch, let alone obsess over this dull game, then this is the book for you.”

Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew sets the standard high for the new Commonwealth Book Prize, which aims to discover new talent and energise literary output in the different regions.”