by Rose Tremain
|
by Sadie Jones
|
by John Lanchester
|
|
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Product Description
Set in a closed desert kingdom in our own times, it tells how Sayeed, a good but unexceptional man, finds love with a woman who would have been beyond his reach had not poverty and widowhood brought her low. The scene is set with unpretending tenderness: the hospital where Sayeed works, the kindness of his friends, the struggle to make a decent home for his new wife Latifa and her child, the bustle of his brother's home, the simple wedding. Heat, dirt and squalor are the backdrop to the tragedy, Latifa, confused and far from home, the terrified victim. Petty jealousy, sexual desire and religious fervour combine to bring her down and to leave the reader stunned. Mirage emerged from 1999's Booker judging as the unexpected favourite of the chairman, Gerald Kaufman, and other judges, just missing the final shortlist. It was later chosen by two of the judges, Boyd Tonkin and Shena Mackay as one of their books of that year. What made this championing of a first novel all the more surprising was the fact that it had been published by the author himself.
From the Publisher
Mirage nearly got on the shortlist for the Booker Prize 1999
A tragedy of Middle Eastern manners
A tragedy of Middle Eastern manners
Boyd Tonkin, The Literary Editor of the Independent
Mirage by Bandula Chandraratna (Serendip Publishers, £6.75)
THIS YEAR, as invariably happens, most of the media palaver generated by the Booker Prize has focused on a few well-known names. Yet one of the joys of the judging process lies – as I discovered – in the sudden revelation of fresh talent from a quite unexpected source. In his speech at the Booker dinner on Monday, Gerald Kaufman spoke of his special affection for Mirage – a first, self-published novel from a Northamptonshire-based writer. Other judges admired it deeply, and it came close to gaining a place on the shortlist. ...
Most people in the West will read little about a society such as that of Saudi Arabia beyond the stereotypes, laced with scandal, that the media deliver from time to time. And that hi-tech tyranny itself has no interest in exposing to outsiders the cost of its forced march to a sort of feudal postmodernity. For that, we need novels as lucid, moving and compassionate as this one. I would urge you to read it.
For the complete review of Mirage by Mr Boyd Tonkin, visit: www.independent.co.uk Go to entertainment, books and search Mirage.
Also, read the Books of the Year and the comments by Sheena Mackay and Boyd Tonkin.
Private eye wrote about Mirage on 12 Nov. 1999. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
|||||||||||||||
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
Your Recent History
(What's this?)|
After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. |
