Exquisitely crafted, these are poems about love, history and landscape that transport us with breathtaking imagery to the poet's first home, Sri Lanka.

'The way his novels are truly poetic, Ondaatje's thrilling poems often read like exquisite, unwritten Ondaatje novels' Independent on Sunday

'Handwriting explores Sri Lankan history, geography, ceremonies and myths. It is crowded with scintillating images, such as a tightrope-walker caught in a power cut, beautiful colours and textures' New Statesman & Society

'A set of intimate, gentle poems, transcribing the history, landscape and traditions of Ceylon' The Times