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Literary Fiction· Sri Lanka

Reef

by Romesh Gunesekera
Aggregate Editorial Score41/100
★Booker Prize
Published 1994English
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About This Book

Published in 1994, Reef established Romesh Gunesekera as one of the defining voices in literary fiction. This novel tells the story of Triton, a young servant in a Sri Lankan household, and his relationship with his employer, Mr. Salgado. Set against the backdrop of political unrest, the book explores themes of change, loss, and the passage of time. Gunesekera's evocative prose and rich character development have made 'Reef' a classic in contemporary Sri Lankan literature. Themes of change and loss, servitude, political unrest run through the work.

Book Details

AuthorRomesh Gunesekera
Published1994
Country of Origin🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
LanguageEnglish
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9781862070747
Editorial Score41/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

This book is part of Sri Lanka's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Sri Lanka →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 1994, Romesh Gunesekera's Reef is a work of literary fiction that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with change and loss, servitude, political unrest, time gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Critics and institutions have consistently placed Reef among the notable works of its period. Our aggregate score of 41/100 is compiled from 1 editorial sources that range from Nobel and Booker committees to leading literary journals. What distinguishes Reef is how it handles its central concerns — change and loss, servitude, political unrest, time — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Reef reflects Romesh Gunesekera's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with Sri Lanka's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Booker Prize
shortlist · global
19940
✍️
About the Author
Romesh Gunesekera
Sri Lanka
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Romesh Gunesekera is a Sri Lanka author whose work in literary fiction has earned recognition from readers and critics alike.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Reef about?

This novel tells the story of Triton, a young servant in a Sri Lankan household, and his relationship with his employer, Mr. Salgado. Set against the backdrop of political unrest, the book explores themes of change, loss, and the passage of time. Gunesekera's evocative prose and rich character development have made 'Reef' a classic in contemporary Sri Lankan literature.

Who wrote Reef?

Reef was written by Romesh Gunesekera, from Sri Lanka. First published in 1994.

What awards has Reef won?

Reef has received the following recognition: notable critical recognition.

Is Reef worth reading?

Reef is a well-regarded book with an aggregate editorial score of 41/100 on 50 Best Books. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in change and loss, servitude, political unrest.

Where can I buy Reef?

You can buy Reef on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Reef?

Reef is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is Reef from?

Reef originates from Sri Lanka's literary tradition. Explore more books from Sri Lanka on our country page.

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