About the Author

Roma Tearne is a Sri Lankan-born, Oxford-based artist, film-maker and writer. She trained as a painter, completing her MA at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, Oxford, UK. Her debut novel, Mosquito, was shortlisted for the 2007 Costa Book Awards First Novel prize and the LA Times First Fiction Prize. The Swimmer was longlisted for the Orange Prize in 2011 and Asian Man Booker in 2012.

Reviews

--'Heartfelt and timely' CHRIS CLEAVE, New York Times bestselling author of Everyone Brave is Forgiven-- -'Rich and satisfying, and written with a painter's instinct for the beautiful' The Times -'Tearne is a vividly sensitive writer who spares her readers unnecessary sentiment and hones in on raw emotions just below the surface' The Independent -'Richly characterised and deeply moving' Daily Mail -'An exquisite writer and captivating storyteller' Aminatta Forna, author of The Memory of Love -'[Tearne] gives the Tamil diaspora a recognizable face in this plainly told yet engaging tale' New York Times -'Beautifully crafted ... Tearne captures the desperation, fear and hope of love during wartime' Publishers Weekly -'Offers a moving May-December love story set against a conflict in which the warring parties ultimately become Violence and Art. Wholly satisfying.' Kirkus Reviews -'In her moody, painterly depiction of the encounter turned love affair between a Sri Lankan novelist and his neighbor's daughter, Tearne links her love story to national politics with a vengeance.' NPR, All Things Considered