De Bernières’ first novel, The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts, was published in1990 and won the Commonwealth Writers Prize, Best First Book Eurasia Region in 1991.  The next year, his second book, Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord, won the Commonwealth Writers Prize, Best Book Eurasia Region.  His third book, The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman, was published in 1992. These works were influenced by de Bernières’ experiences in Colombia and together make up his ‘Latin American trilogy’. 

In 1993 de Bernières was selected by Granta magazine as one of the twenty Best of Young British Novelists. His next book, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, was published the following year. This novel became a phenomenal bestseller with sales helped by word-of-mouth recommendations.  It went on to win the Commonwealth Writers Prize, Best Book in 1995 and has now been translated into thirty-five languages.  A major film based on Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was released in 2001. De Bernières has also written a play, Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World (2001), and a novella, Red Dog (2001). His last novel was Birds Without Wings (2004),  shortlisted for the 2004 Whitbread Novel Award and the 2005 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Eurasia Region, Best Book). His new novel, A Partisan's Daughter, is published in 2008.

As well as gardening and repairing old cars when he is not writing, Louis de Bernieres plays the flute, mandolin, clarinet and guitar, and performs regularly with the Antonius Players.  He lives in Norfolk .