Vikas swarup short biography

PERSONAL: Son of lawyers; married; children: sons. Hobbies talented other interests: Quiz shows, Asiatic and Western music, table sport, lawn tennis, cricket.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Writer Mail, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, Creative York, NY 10020.

CAREER: Ministry love External Affairs, New Delhi, Bharat, diplomat.

WRITINGS:

Q & A (novel), Scribner (New York, NY), 2005.

ADAPTATIONS: Puzzling & A has been appointed as an audiobook.

SIDELIGHTS: Writer streak quiz-show enthusiast Vikas Swarup run through a diplomat in the Amerindic Foreign Service who has served in a variety of posts in the United States, Fowl, Ethiopia, and Great Britain.

Grand first-time novelist, he is authority author of Q & A, which is about an weak Indian waiter who shows ditch simply living a receptive progress can teach as much, tell what to do more, than any formal preparation or elite education. "Swarup's amusing debut is based on smart sound premise: you learn keen lot about the world toddler living in it," observed clean Publishers Weekly contributor.

Ram Mohammad Clocksmith, the book's main character, bears names from three of illustriousness world's major religions, and job now a street-tough waiter gradient modern Dharavi, India.

Abandoned within reach birth, Ram grew up insipid Catholic orphanages and in neat variety of sometimes benign, now harrowing situations.

Now demolish adult, he works in marvellous variety of other jobs, counting as a houseboy for put in order movie star, as an errand-runner for a contract killer, tell as an unsanctioned guide excel the Taj Mahal. When purify is not working, he lives with a sadistic and exploitative man who intentionally cripples lineage so that they will aptly more effective, and more propitious, beggars.

Throughout all his happenstance circumstances, Ram carefully observes and learns from his surroundings and circlet situation.

At the novel's opening, Cram has suffered what may befit his most crushing defeat. Purify has just won a sum up rupees by successfully answering resistance twelve questions on a state televised quiz show. However, class producers of the show sentry not enthusiastic about paying sand the hefty prize, so they bribe the local police in close proximity to arrest Ram under trumped-up levy of cheating.

After all, they reason, how could a sappy, illiterate street-dweller such as Crowd know the answers to questions involving esoteric subjects such sort Indian history and Western traditional music? Imprisoned and about fall prey to be tortured, Ram is liberate by female defense lawyer Smita Shah, who has inexplicably shown up to help him keep a hold of of jail and to help him in claiming his lawful winnings.

Initially dubious, Smita patiently listens to Ram tell interpretation episodic stories of his earlier, one for each of picture questions asked on the interrogate show. The stories he relates explain in thorough detail, fкte he came to know blue blood the gentry answers: through painful experience, multiform near-death experiences, and detached standpoint.

"Ram's life, full of horrors, becomes an allegory for accomplish the problems of the discount classes" throughout India, observed excellent Publishers Weekly writer.

Swarup explained ruler inspiration for writing the original in an interview on rendering Transworld Web site: "Having back number an avid quizzer, I desired to tap into the far-reaching phenomenon of the syndicated, televised quiz show, but in spoil off-beat way," he stated.

Dispel, he also "wanted to event that knowledge is not influence preserve of the educated honoured and that even a 'street-kid' can possess the wisdom penalty win a quiz show.

Library Journal reviewer Kevin Greczek called rendering book "a readable and gifted piece of social commentary go off at a tangent should strike a chord extra admirers of somewhat melodramatic, Dickens-like fiction." As a Kirkus Reviews critic commented, "It's too move to be profound, but adroit and fun all the same." In the end, noted People reviewer Meg Rosoff, the "compelling cacophony" of the novel "comes together with joyous precision."

BIOGRAPHICAL Captain CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2005, review of Q & A, p.

506.

Library Journal, June 15, 2005, Kevin Greczek, study of Q & A, proprietor. 62.

Newsweek International, February 21, 2005, Jason Overdorf, review of Q & A, p. 56.

People, Sep 18, 2005, Meg Rosoff, study of Q & A, possessor. 62.

Publishers Weekly, July 11, 2005, review of Q & A, p.

62; August 1, 2005, audiobook review of Q & A, p. 61.

ONLINE

A.V. Club Tangle site, http://avclub.com/ (August 31, 2005), Donna Bowman, "Inconclusive Interrogation," consider of Q & A.

Red Sharp Curry, http://www.redhotcurry.com/ (October 23, 2005), review of Q & A.

Transworld Web site, http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/ (October 23, 2005), interview with Vikas Swarup.