Introduced by comedienne Jo Brand at a gala evening at the Café de Paris in London on June 10th, the winning novel was announced as:
The Marriage Bureau for Rich People
by Farahad Zama
(Abacus original paperback, £7.99)
The winning author received a cheque for £5,000. Sophie Kinsella, one of the judges said:
“The Marriage Bureau for Rich People is a lilting, funny, warm-hearted book set in the world of Indian arranged marriages and match-makers. It deals with both romance and pragmatism in a witty, beguiling way and charmed the judges with its quirky humour, romantic heart and unforgettable characters.”
Farahad Zama lives in South London; he writes on his daily commute to work in the City. He said this evening:
“I am absolutely delighted at winning the Melissa Nathan award. When I started writing, it was as a diversion from a stressful job and getting awards was the last thing on my mind, especially from a jury of such well-known authors, comedians and literary figures.” Farahad Zama grew up in Vizag on the east coast of India, where his novel is set. His parents paid 20p per month for him to attend an English school and from there he went on to university where he was recruited by Citibank. He has since worked in Mumbai, Zurich and New York, before moving to London in 1990. He is a director in the FX technology division of Merrill Lynch. Like many of the characters in his novel, Farahad had an arranged marriage to a local girl from Vizag; they have been married for many years and have two sons.
For further information, images and interview/accreditation requests please contact the Awards committee at info@melissanathan.com
Melissa Nathan Award - Melissa Nathan Foundation - Contact Us Site created by Rocktime 2007