Since achieving independence from Britain in 1968, Mauritians have been searching for an identity that reflects the great cultural diversity of their Islands. Situated in the Southern Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia, Mauritius belongs to neither continent, not to the series of European powers that colonised it for over three centuries. Until recently French has been the usual literary language of Mauritius, and this is the first anthology of Mauritian writing in English.

Twenty-three novelists, short-story writers and poets, some writing in English for the first time, have contributed to a pioneering collection which explores from the inside a world that Europeans have called 'paradise' since they discovered it.

The Mauritian Ministry of Arts and Culture and the British Council (Mauritius) have generously supported this publication.