Mirage

by Bandula Chandraratna

Overview

Within a closed Saudi Arabia kingdom, an unexceptional man, Sayeed, finds happiness with Lalifa, a girl who might have been beyond his reach had widowhood and misfortune not brought her within it. But soon the struggle to make a decent life for his new wife and her child amidst heat, dirt, and squalor form the backdrop of tragedy, one fueled by pretty jealousy, sexual desire, and religious fervor.

Mirage was published in England in 1999 at the author's own expense. It emerged from that year's Booker Prize deliberations the unexpected favorite of a number of the judges, just missing the final short-list. Boyd Tonkin, literary editor of the London Independent, chose it as his Book of the Year, saying "we need novels as lucid, moving, and compassionate as this one."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781574231953
Publisher:	David R. Godine, Publisher
Publication date:	12/30/2003
Pages:	214
Product dimensions:	5.36(w) x 8.12(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

Bandula Chandraratna was born in Sri Lanka. His work in hospitals led him to places such as Saudi Arabia, where he set his first novel, and London, where he published it. He currently lives in Northamptonshire, England.

Editorial Reviews

This powerful first novel surfaced as a contender for the 1999 Booker Prize after being privately published by the author. Set in an unnamed Arab kingdom, it offers a compelling portrait of the affable, industrious Sayeed, who has migrated from his family's farm to the city. In clear, concise language, Sri Lankan-born Chandraratna describes this pious Muslim's daily life as a hospital porter enduring harsh urban realities. When Sayeed's family arranges his marriage, his life becomes even more challenging. Besides paying a dowry, Sayeed must help his new wife, the recently widowed Latifa, and her child adjust to squalid living conditions intensified by ardently religious neighbors troubled over the influx of Western customs. Just as the family begins to bond, several combustible factors ignite in a shocking, explosive conclusion to an otherwise simple, unassuming tale. Throughout, Chandraratna demonstrates a keen eye and considerable talent for sharing the most mundane minutiae without arresting his novel's naturalistic force. Highly recommended.-Faye A. Chadwell, Univ. of Oregon Libs., Eugene Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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