Indian writer's post-Emergency tale in UK award shortlist

London: US-based Indian writer Akhil Sharma's story of a family that moves to New York from New Delhi post- Emergency has been shortlisted for UK's Folio Prize.

"Family Life" is about two brothers Ajay and Birju taken by their parents to the US after the Emergency so they can have a better life.

Dark, sardonic, and written with biting wit and observation, "Family Life", published by Penguin, is a portrait of one dysfunctional family that speaks to all families.

The eight shorlisted titles are Sharma's "Family Life"; "10:04" by Ben Lerner; "All My Puny Sorrows" by Miriam Toews; "Dept. of Speculation" by Jenny Offill; "Dust" by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor; "How to Be Both" by Ali Smith; "Nora Webster" by Colm Toibin; and "Outline" by Rachel Cusk.

Sponsored by publisher The Folio Society, the 40,000 pound prize recognises the best English-language fiction from around the world, regardless of form, genre or the author's country of origin.

The winner will be announced on March 23 here.

Announcing the shortlist, Chair of judges William Fiennes said, "The eight books we've chosen explore vast themes - time, loss, belonging, war, solitude, marriage and family, the making and the mystery of art - with amazing vitality and grace.

"They manage to be both epic and intimate - in fact, they show those dimensions to be two sides of the same coin.

They've surprised, moved, challenged and enchanted us. They've made us laugh. They've grown and deepened when we read them again."

"Family Life" is about two brothers Ajay and Birju taken by their parents to the US after the Emergency so they can have a better life.

Dark, sardonic, and written with biting wit and observation, "Family Life", published by Penguin, is a portrait of one dysfunctional family that speaks to all families.