When Ram Mohammed Thomas, an uneducated orphan from Asia’slargest slum, answers 12 questions to win a billion rupees on an Indian TV quizshow, he startles everyone—even himself. Framed for cheating by the show’sunscrupulous producers, Ram must defend himself in the course of spinning outthe tale of his extraordinary life.

Darkly comic and charming, Q & A is a fable of life’sdilemmas, an enthralling picture of fortune, misfortune and humanity in all itsguises. Vikas Swarup’s first novel is an international phenomenon, translatedinto 21 languages and acclaimed around the world, with film rights optioned byBritain’s FilmFour Productions and a musical in the works.