Photo: supplied/Robin Christian
Kaliane Bradley's debut novel began as a bit of fun to entertain friends during lockdown in London. The Ministry of Time is both a time travel/sci fi novel, a romcom and a mystery with a twist.
At the time, she was also trying to write what she describes as "The Big Cambodian Novel" about the traumatic days of the Pol Pot regime in her mother's country. She says it just didn't fly. Whereas The Ministry of Time did - and has.
It was the subject of 48-hour bidding deal; translation rights were sold in 17 different languages; and a TV show is already in development with A24 and the BBC.
New Zealand Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton had this to say about The Ministry of Time when she read an advanced copy: "This is already the best new book I will have read next year". Kaliane Bradley joins Kathryn from London.
