Tash Aw was born in Taipei, in the Republic of China, andbrought up in Malaysia. He moved to England in his teens andnow lives in London. He is the author of ‘The Harmony Silk Factory’, which was the winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Novel and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and ‘Map of the Invisible World’. His most recent novel, ‘Five Star Billionaire’, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2013.

'Aw's first novel was a sublime piece of work that Doris Lessing called "unputdownable". She will find this one similarly mesmerising…This is absolutely stunning writing – Aw is emerging as a master storyteller.' The Times'Aw's prose can be powerful and mesmerising in its sense of place…and psychological acuity. Haunting and memorable.' Maya Jaggi, Guardian'Aw is a writer of great power and delicacy, as able to conjure stampeding crowds as the glow of fireflies.' Daily Mail'Aw's sinuous writing vividly brings the turbulent social backdrop to life.' Sunday Times'His prose is vividly lyrical; and one can almost feel the heat and smell the sweat of Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.' Independent'Buoyant, limber, confidently told…a book embodying huge ambition, jostling with love, betrayal and guilt, all set poignantly and subtly against the politics of turmoil in post-colonial Indonesia circa 1964.' Scotsman‘An intelligent second novel…Aw’s characteristic tone is a fine lyricism that, at best owes something to Michael Ondaatje or Anne Michaels…Aw has an exceptional talent for set pieces.’ Sunday Telegraph

Tash Aw was born in Taipei, in the Republic of China, andbrought up in Malaysia. He moved to England in his teens andnow lives in London. He is the author of ‘The Harmony Silk Factory’, which was the winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Novel and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and ‘Map of the Invisible World’. His most recent novel, ‘Five Star Billionaire’, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2013.

'Aw's first novel was a sublime piece of work that Doris Lessing called "unputdownable". She will find this one similarly mesmerising…This is absolutely stunning writing – Aw is emerging as a master storyteller.' The Times'Aw's prose can be powerful and mesmerising in its sense of place…and psychological acuity. Haunting and memorable.' Maya Jaggi, Guardian'Aw is a writer of great power and delicacy, as able to conjure stampeding crowds as the glow of fireflies.' Daily Mail'Aw's sinuous writing vividly brings the turbulent social backdrop to life.' Sunday Times'His prose is vividly lyrical; and one can almost feel the heat and smell the sweat of Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.' Independent'Buoyant, limber, confidently told…a book embodying huge ambition, jostling with love, betrayal and guilt, all set poignantly and subtly against the politics of turmoil in post-colonial Indonesia circa 1964.' Scotsman‘An intelligent second novel…Aw’s characteristic tone is a fine lyricism that, at best owes something to Michael Ondaatje or Anne Michaels…Aw has an exceptional talent for set pieces.’ Sunday Telegraph