Feb 10, 2016 03:32 PM
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There have only been a few books, as far as fiction is concerned, that feature the game of Cricket as a major element of the narrative. This despite the fact that some of the major doyens of English literature, most notably the English playwright Harold Pinter, have been great fans of the game. And it's all the more surprising because most of the exciting literature in English is now coming out of the commonwealth nations, places where the game has traditionally prospered.
Shehan Karunatilaka fills that gaping hole big-time with his Commonwealth Prize winning novel Chinaman - The legend of Pradeep Matthew(Also shortlisted for the DSC prize for South Asian Literature). The book manages to be a major achievement in contemporary literature. There is delight on offer on every page. It's farcical and tragi-comical. There are hilarious caricatures of some of the most well-known cricketing icons, including ex-players and commentators.
The narrator is W G Karunasena(Notice that he shares the first two initials with arguably the greatest cricketer ever: W G Grace), an alcoholic sportswriter. In the final months of his life, he has two obsessions: the alcoholic beverage Arrack, and the disappeared spin-bowler Pradeep Matthew whom WG deems to be the best ever. What follows is an endlessly funny and exciting endeavor of him trying to track the missing chinaman down, and get him his due. So, cricket is not the only theme here. Indeed, it's the background for the major themes of obsession, alcoholism, and the violent Sri-Lankan history.
