- Sri Lankan-born Australian author Shankari Chandran has been awarded the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Prize in 2023 for the novel “Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens”.
- Ten years earlier, he had encountered difficulty publishing his first book, as publishers doubted its appeal to the local Australian market, as it was not “Australian” enough.
- Chandran’s award-winning novel, titled ‘Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens’, revolves around themes of family, memories, community, race and highlights Australia’s complex relationship with multiculturalism and the consequences of colonialism.
- The novel has been hailed as an inter-generational epic that explores the complexities of Australia’s multicultural society and the miseries of post-colonialism.
- Chandran’s story emphasises that our personal stories play an important role in shaping us as individuals and the fabric of society.
- Remarkably, ‘Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens’ is Chandran’s third published novel, which shows his growth and dedication as a writer.
- Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual award given to a novel of the highest literary merit that explores some aspect of Australian life.
