Eka Kurniawan (born November 28, 1975) is an Indonesian writer and screenwriter.
In 2016, Kurniawan became the first Indonesian writer to be nominated for the Man Booker International Prize.
Early life Kurniawan was born in Tasikmalaya, West Java, and grew up in a small coastal town, Pangandaran. He studied philosophy at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. Kurniawan currently lives in Jakarta. He writes novels, short stories, movie scripts, and blog, as well as essays. His works are translated into more than 24 languages.
Career His novel Beauty Is a Wound was included in the list of 100 notable books by The New York Times. The use of magic realism in the book has led to comparisons to Gabriel García Márquez. Kurniawan has insisted that Beauty Is a Wound is neither a historical novel nor a book about Indonesian history. Kurniawan's style of "approaching social concerns at an angle rather than head-on, with hefty doses of surrealism and wry humour" also draws comparisons to Haruki Murakami. He has been described as "Indonesia's finest writer since Pramoedya Ananta Toer" and "Indonesia's most exciting author."
In 2016, Palari Films announced a film adaptation of Kurniawan's book Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash to be directed by Edwin, who would also co-write the screenplay with Kurniawan. The film was expected to get a 2021 release.
Personal life Kurniawan is married to fellow writer and screenwriter Ratih Kumala.
Bibliography YearBookPublisherNotes1999Pramoedya Ananta Toer dan Sastra Realisme SosialisAksara IndonesiaGramedia Pustaka UtamaNon-fiction2000Corat-Coret di ToiletAksara IndonesiaShort stories2002Cantik Itu LukaJendelaGramedia Pustaka Utama2004Lelaki HarimauGramedia Pustaka Utama2005Gelak Sedih dan Cerita-Cerita LainnyaShort stories2005Cinta Tak Ada Mati dan Cerita-Cerita Lainnya2010Kumpulan Budak SetanCo-author2014Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas2015Perempuan Patah Hati yang Kembali Menemukan Cinta Melalui MimpiShort stories2016O2019Senyap yang Lebih NyaringCirca2020Usaha Menulis Silsilah Bacaan2021Sumur: Sebuah CeritaGramedia Pustaka UtamaShort story2024The Dog Meows, the Cat BarksNovella/Novel
English YearBookPublisherNotes2015Beauty Is a WoundNew DirectionsCantik Itu Luka, translated by Annie Tucker2015Man TigerVerso BooksLelaki Harimau, translated by Labodalih Sembiring2017Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay CashNew DirectionsSeperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas, translated by Annie Tucker2019Kitchen CurseVerso BooksShort stories translated by Benedict Anderson, Maggie Tiojakin, Tiffany Tsao, and Annie Tucker2020Tales of Two Planets (Chapter: The Well)Penguin BooksAnthology, edited by John Freeman
Filmography YearFilmCreditDirected by2021Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay CashScreenwriter (with Edwin)Edwin2025Sleep No More Screenwriter (with Edwin) Edwin
Accolades YearAwardWorkResultRef.2005Kusala Khatulistiwa Literary Award for FictionCinta Tak Ada Mati dan Cerita-Cerita Lainnya2014Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas2015Foreign Policy's Global Thinkers of 2015HimselfIKAPI Award for Book of the YearLelaki HarimauKusala Khatulistiwa Literary Award for FictionPerempuan Patah Hati yang Kembali Menemukan Cinta Melalui MimpiIndonesian Readers Award for Best Fiction Writer2016World Readers AwardBeauty Is a WoundBest Translated Book AwardInternational Booker PrizeMan TigerFinancial Times/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Fiction AwardIndonesian Readers Award for Best Fiction CoverLelaki Harimau2018Prince Claus AwardHimself202210th Maya Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (shared with Edwin)Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash42nd Citra Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (shared with Edwin)
References
External links Eka Kurniawan Journal Gramedia Pustaka Utama