7.2 /10 1 Votes
Country Sri Lanka, UK ISBN 978-1-8620-7094-3 Countries Sri Lanka, United Kingdom | 3.6/5 Goodreads Language English Originally published 1 April 1995 Publisher Granta (UK) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Publication date June 30, 1994 (UK); April 1, 1995 (US) Media type Print (hardback) and (paperback) Pages 192pp (UK paperback edition); 180pp (2011 UK edition) Genres Literary fiction, Historical Fiction, Asian literature Similar Monkfish moon, The sandglass, Noontide Toll, Heaven's edge, The Prisoner of Paradise | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reef is a historical fiction novel written by Sri Lankan-born British author Romesh Gunesekera, first published by Granta Books in 1994. Written in English and set in Sri Lanka, it tells the story of a talented young chef named Triton who is so committed to pleasing his master, Mr. Salgado, a marine biologist obsessed with swamps and seafood, that he is oblivious to the political unrest threatening his country. It is Gunesekera's debut novel and second book, following his 1992 collection of short stories, Monkfish Moon.
Contents
It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1994, but lost to How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman amid much controversy; and the Guardian Fiction Prize the same year.
Plot
Triton is a young chef who was forced to leave his father's house to work for Mr. Ranjan Salgado, a marine biologist obsessed by swamps, sea movements, and a Sri Lankan island's disappearing reef. Almost immediately, thanks to his master's obsessions, Triton works hard to please him with his carefully prepared delicacies. But neither of them know that the political unrest threatening Sri Lanka will have a devastating effect on them, most significantly on Triton.