After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The crew of the surviving vessel consists of a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan, a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger and Pi – a 16-year-old Indian boy. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary pieces of literary fiction of recent years.

Reviews

“Those who would believe that the art of fiction is moribund – let them read Yann Martel with astonishment, delight and gratitude.” Alberto Manguel

“The whole fantastic voyage carries hints of ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ and the magic realism of Amado and Marquez and the absurdity of Beckett… Yann Martel does a beautiful job.” Globe and Mail (Toronto)

“Martel writes like a more compassionate Paul Auster.” Times Literary Supplement

“Martel finds dazzling ways of expressing the hitherto unexpressed.” Mail on Sunday

“Reminiscent of Italo Calvino.” Independent on Sunday