Novelist Anosh Irani at Roselawn
Acclaimed novelist and awardwinning playwright Anosh Irani will speak about his latest novel — “The Parcel” — Wednesday at the Canadian Authors Series at Roselawn Centre.
Series head Elizabeth Madronich said Irani’s reading in Port Colborne was moved back from the series’ normal last-Thursday-of-the-month night due to his schedule.
Born in Bombay, Irani moved to Vancouver in 1998 and is the author of the acclaimed novel “The Cripple and His Talismans.” His other books include “Dahanu Road” and “The Song of Kahunsha.”
His play “Bombay Black” won the Dora Mavor Moore Award in 2006 for best new play or new musical.
In a release, Madronich said “The Parcel” was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and for the Governor General’s Literary Award.
His new novel’s voice is Madhu, a eunuch who has spent most of her life in a close-knit clan of transgender sex workers in Kamathipura, the notorious redlight district of Bombay, India.
A synopsis of the book from publisher Penguin Random House Canada said Madhu identifies herself as a “hijra” — a person belonging to the third sex, neither man nor woman.
“Now, at 40, she has moved away from prostitution, her trade since her teens, and is forced to beg on the streets to support the charismatic head of her hijra clan, Gurumai.”
Irani will talk about his book and will answer questions afterwards.
On Tuesday, Nov. 13, Canadian astronaut and author Dr. Dafydd (Dave) Rhys Williams will speak at the series. Williams, an Order of Canada member, flew on the space shuttles Columbia and Endeavour and became Canada’s first dual astronaut and aquanaut. He also logged more than 687 hours in space, including three spacewalks, the highest number of spacewalks ever performed in a single mission.
For Iran’s visit, doors will be open and tasting will start at 7:30 p.m. The tasting will go to 8:15 p.m. and then Irani will speak.
For more information on the series and tickets, visit www.thecanadianauthorsseries.ca or www.facebook.com/ The Canadian Authors Series.
Season’s tickets are available for $160 and single evening tickets are $30 and can be purchased at Port Colborne Public Library.