Salt snaps up 'expansive' debut from Amanthi Harris

Salt will publish an "emotionally-charged" debut of anger, identity and independence by Amanthi Harris, a former solicitor who scooped the Gatehouse Press Fiction Prize for emerging writers in 2016.

Centred upon the Villa Hibiscus, a guesthouse in the beautiful southern coast of Sri Lanka, the "expansive and multi-layered debut", Beautiful Place, traces the life of Padma, her stepfather, Gerhardt, and the lives of the many guests coming to stay, each seeking a better life and independence, free of oppression and misrepresentation. 

Jennifer Hamilton-Emery, director of Salt, acquired world rights to Beautiful Place (excluding India) to the title from Philippa Sitters at David Godwin Associates.

Harris was born in Sri Lanka and now lives in London.

Hamilton-Emery said: "This passionate story, perfectly captures the tropical beauty of Sri Lanka, using a deep sense of place to contrast with and inform an extraordinary range of lives, each seeking something new, something free, something true. I’m thrilled to be publishing this gorgeous novel, everyone will identify with Padma on her journey to become the woman she yearns to be."

Salt will publish in print and e-book in June 2019.