Penguin Random House India is proud to announce the acquisition of Father Cabraal’s Recipe for Love Cake, the debut novel by acclaimed poet and short story writer, Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe. The novel was recently awarded the 31st Gratiaen Prize, one of the most prestigious literary honours for Sri Lankan writing in English. It is slated for publication in February 2026 under Penguin’s Vintage imprint.
Set on a lush, unnamed tropical island inspired by Sri Lanka, Father Cabraal’s Recipe for Love Cake masterfully intertwines two timelines, uncovering the enduring legacies of colonial exploitation, slavery, and rebellion. In the present day, Katharina Silvaria, a former war correspondent, retreats to an ancestral home and turns to baking as a form of survival and healing. When a wounded fugitive seeks shelter in her house, she is drawn into a fraught political uprising that mirrors the island’s long history of unrest.
Running parallel is the story of Santiago De Melo and Maria, his unconventional bride, who resist the colonial power of the 17th-century European Company that dominates the island’s economy and people. As the couple becomes entangled in the brutal politics of the pepper trade, their lives foreshadow the cycles of violence and resistance that echo into the future.
Richly atmospheric and layered with history, the novel explores themes of power, memory, food, and identity, offering a powerful meditation on the costs of empire and the resilience of those who live in its shadow.
Speaking about the book, Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe said, ‘Father Cabraal’s Recipe for Love Cake grew from a love of place and food. My own life on a tropical island is woven around cooking, pungent spices, and spaces that are beautiful and breathtaking. Yet, all these have, as a backdrop, disturbing links to colonialism and imperialism. Set in a fictional colonial fort, the novel links the past with the present as characters from different times navigate their day-to-day lives, their loves and loyalties, under authoritarian rulers. I am delighted that my novel found a home at Penguin Random House India and am excited to work with my editor and the rest of the team as we prepare the book for its launch.’
Rea Mukherjee, Commissioning Editor at Penguin Random House India, said, ‘A bold, atmospheric, and exquisitely crafted novel that explores the complex, enduring legacies of colonial exploitation and slavery, this novel peels back the layers that form a colonised country’s tumultuous past and its present. Beautifully structured and deeply evocative, I’m thrilled this remarkable book found its way to us at Penguin. Ramya is an exceptionally gifted writer, and I’m looking forward to working with her. I can’t wait for this to make its way to readers soon!’
Milee Ashwarya, Publisher and Senior VP, Adult Publishing Group, PRH India, says, ‘Father Cabraal’s Recipe for Love Cake beautifully intertwines the past and present, exploring themes of love, resilience, and the enduring impact of history. Ramya Jirasinghe has crafted a narrative that is both poignant and evocative, capturing the essence of a postcolonial country’s rich cultural heritage. We’re thrilled to bring this remarkable story to readers and I look forward to publishing it.’
Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe lives in Sri Lanka, where she works for an international charity supporting child rights. She holds an MA in Comparative Literature from SOAS, University of London, and a PhD from the University of Colombo. She has previously published poetry, non-fiction, features, a play and short fiction.
Father Cabraal’s Recipe for Love Cake promises to be a landmark literary debut, heralding an important new voice in South Asian fiction.