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Renewals, by Romesh Gunesekera

Episode 1 of 5

Romesh Gunesekera introduces and reads his story Renewals, set in Sri Lanka. A driver takes an important visitor to Jaffna Public Library and enters the building for the first time.

The first of five short stories by leading literary voices writing in English from around the Commonwealth. Starting on 10th March, Commonwealth Day, they are being broadcast across this week, with stories from South Africa, Australia, Jamaica and Uganda.

The series opens with Romesh Gunesekera introducing and reading his poignant short story "Renewals", set in Sri Lanka. A local driver takes an important visitor to Jaffna Public Library and, while waiting, finds that he is also curious to explore the building and enters it for the first time.

Romesh Gunesekera was born in 1954 and grew up in Sri Lanka and the Philippines before moving to England in 1972. His acclaimed first novel, Reef, was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize and the Booker Prize.

He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has also received a National Honour in Sri Lanka. His most recent book, Noontide Toll, will be published later in 2014.

Reader, Romesh Gunesekera
Writer, Romesh Gunesekera
Studio Producer, Allegra McIlroy
Producer, Kirsteen Cameron.

20 minutes

Last on

Mon 10 Mar 2014 20:20

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  • Mon 10 Mar 2014 20:20