Yann Martel is a highly acclaimed Canadian author, best known for his literary fiction novels. He was born in Spain in 1963 to nomadic Canadian parents, and spent his childhood in various parts of the world including Alaska, British Columbia, Costa Rica, France, Ontario, and Mexico. As an adult, he has lived in Iran, Turkey, and India. After studying philosophy at Trent University and working a series of odd jobs, he began his writing career. He currently resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with his partner, writer Alice Kuipers, and their four children.
Martel has gained worldwide recognition for his unique approach to fiction and storytelling. His works tackle universal themes such as life, love, loss, and tragedy with a sense of light-hearted intelligence and brevity. His writing has been praised for its ability to make profound subjects accessible to a wide audience. His 2001 novel, Life of Pi, was a major success, earning him the prestigious Man Booker Prize and reaching the top of best-seller lists around the world. In addition to Life of Pi, Martel is also the author of several other highly regarded works including The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, Self, Beatrice & Virgil, and 101 Letters to a Prime Minister.