Tom Lanoye is an award-winning Belgian novelist, poet, and playwright. Starting out as a poet and critic, he became famous for his prose and drama, as well as his politically and socially engaged columns and his unique cabaret‐style performances. He is the author of more than fifty works of poetry, drama, and fiction, and his work has been translated into fifteen languages. His bestseller Speechless was awarded several major prizes and has been adapted for screen in 2017. Lanoye has won many literary awards, including the prestigious Constantijn Huygens Prize for his entire oeuvre. Fortunate Slaves was shortlisted for both the Libris Literature Prize and the AKO Literature Prize, and sold over 50,000 copies in the Netherlands. A born performer, when not on stage he lives between Antwerp and Cape Town.
Photograph © Tessa Posthuma de Boer