Shehan Karunatilaka

About the Author

Shehan Karunatilaka is a Sri Lankan author whose incisive prose captures the turbulent spirit of his homeland with unflinching honesty and dark humor. Born in Colombo, he studied at the University of Colombo and the University of East Anglia, where he honed his craft in creative writing. Karunatilaka's debut novel, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, a Booker Prize-winning masterpiece, weaves a ghostly narrative through the shadows of Sri Lanka's civil war, blending magical realism with poignant social commentary. His work often explores themes of loss, identity, and resilience, drawing from personal and historical experiences to illuminate the human condition. A former journalist and advertising copywriter, Karunatilaka now divides his time between Colombo and London, continuing to craft stories that resonate globally.