About the book: 2009 / A poetic story of love and loss against the backdrop of civil war, unfolding on a paradise island. Writer Theo, having survived the death of his wife, returns to his native Sri Lanka in the hope of finding long-lost peace among the beautiful landscapes. Plunging deeper into the life of a tormented country, Theo falls in love with his native island, imbued with its calm and at the same time electrified atmosphere. Walking along a deserted beach, he meets a very young girl. Nulani, whose father was burned alive before her eyes, is considered mute in the village; she prefers to communicate with the world through drawings. Shocked by the girl's gift, Theo decides to help her escape from a country stricken by the leprosy of war. But along with the rainy season, a new wave of violence covers the idyllic island, separating the heroes. Powerful, sophisticated, sad and flickering with hope, the novel by the British writer and artist Roma Tirn is a dense, sparkling canvas in which the mesmerizing beauty of Sri Lanka and human love are woven into a tragic but optimistic story. The novel was nominated for the prestigious Costa literary award.