Winner of The Women's Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. The poignant - and at times very funny - novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Dutch House and Commonwealth. Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honour of the powerful businessman Mr. Hosokawa. Roxane Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerised the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening - until a band of gun-wielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots, intimate friends, and lovers.
Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett is an award-winning American author known for her insightful and emotionally resonant novels. She is best known for her novel "Bel Canto," which won the Orange Prize for Fiction and was adapted into a successful opera. Patchett's writing is characterized by rich character development, vivid storytelling, and a deep exploration of human relationships. She has been praised for her ability to blend genres and tackle complex themes with grace and sensitivity. Patchett's contributions to literature have solidified her as a prominent voice in contemporary fiction, with her work transcending traditional boundaries and resonating with readers around the world.