Chinaman  (English, Paperback, Karunatilaka Shehan)

Winner of Commonwealth Book Prize,Asia

Chinaman is the story of W.G. Karunasena, a fictional retired sports writer and major alcoholic. In his last days, Karunasena decides to make a documentary on Sri Lankan cricket, with special focus on Pradeep S. Mathew, a forgotten Sri Lankan spin bowler. Karunasena, along with his friend Ari, sets off on a journey to find him. As the story proceeds, Karunasena’s obsession becomes the prime focus of the book, along with other issues like his turbulent relationship with his wife and son, the underbelly of Sri Lankan cricket, and its association with bookies. The book shifts back and forth in time, as Shehan Karunatilaka, the author showcases fragments of the protagonist’s life and his relationships with the people around him. The book was awarded the Gratiaen prize in Sri Lanka.

About The Author
Shehan Karunatilaka is an author who has donned many hats. He was the bass guitarist for the Sri Lankan bands, Powercut Circus and Independent Square. He writes columns for several magazines and newspapers like The Guardian, Wisden, Newsweek, The Cricketer and Rolling Stone. He also authored another book, The Painter, that was never published.