Ananda Devi was born in Mauritius. She is considered one of the major figures of the Indian Ocean literature. She has received several literary awards, including the Cinq continents de la Francophonie prize, the Louis Guilloux prize, the Mokanda prize, and the Prix du rayonnement de la langue et de la littérature française awarded by the French Academy. Her books published with Editions Gallimard in France include Eve de ses décombres (2006), Indian Tango (2007), Le sari vert (2009), Les hommes qui me parlent (2011), Les jours vivants (2013), and L’ambassadeur triste (2015). Her works available in English translation are Indian Tango (Host Publications, 2011) and Eve out of her Ruins (Les Fugitives and Deep Vellum, 2016; Speaking Tiger, 2017).

Photograph: Catherine Hélie, © Editions Gallimard