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"Solo" Wins Commonwealth Writers' Prize

"Solo" Wins Commonwealth Writers' Prize 21 April 2010

Old Persean Rana Dasgupta who studied at the Perse from 1979-1990 has been awarded the international title of Best Book for his novel "Solo" by the Commonwealth Foundation, who organised and funded the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize.

Dasgupta defeated competition from seven other finalists from different regions of the Commonwealth and claims £10,000 prize money alongside the prestigious title, which has previously been awarded to literary giants including Louis de Bernieres, Vikram Seth and Andrea Levy.

Rana Dasgupta's prize-winning book 'Solo'."Solo" recounts the life and daydreams of Ulrich, a one hundred year-old blind man from Bulgaria, as he embarks on an epic armchair journey through a century of violent politics, forbidden music, lost love and failed chemistry, finding his way eventually to an astonishing epiphany of tenderness and enlightenment.

"Solo" is Dasgupta's second book and his first, "Tokyo Cancelled" (a collection of thirteen folktales), was short-listed for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (UK) and the Hutch Crossword Book Award (India).