British-Indian Chetna Maroo’s Booker Debut
Chetna Maroo, a British-Indian author, has earned a spot on the 2023 Booker Prize longlist with her debut novel, ‘Western Lane.’ The prestigious literary award offers a grand prize of £50,000 and will reveal the winner at an event in London on November 26.
Maroo’s poignant and heartfelt novel is set within the British-Gujarati community and delves into themes of grief, sisterhood, and a young girl’s quest to rise above her circumstances. The book skillfully weaves the sport of squash as both a context and a metaphor, creating a deeply evocative narrative that resonates with readers.
Before her debut novel, Maroo’s stories have graced anthologies and been featured in esteemed publications like the Paris Review, the Stinging Fly, and the Dublin Review. Her exceptional talent was recognized with the 2022 Plimpton Prize for Fiction by the Paris Review, celebrating her outstanding piece of fiction published in the magazine.
Formerly an accountant, Chetna Maroo pursued her passion for writing and crafted ‘Western Lane,’ a novel that now garners a spot on the Booker Prize longlist for 2023.
The longlisted books cover a range of universal and relevant themes, exploring personal dramas, family sagas, climate change, minority oppression, scientific advancements, and competitive sports. The selection boasts contributions from writers across four continents, including four Irish authors, four debut novelists, and ten writers recognized by the Booker Prize for the first time.
–Re-reported from the article originally published in The Statesman
