The Jam Fruit TreeWinner of the Gratiean Memorial Prize for the best work in English Literature by a Sri Lankan for 1993 Hilarious, affectionate, candid and moving, this is the story of the Burghers of Sri Lanka... Who are the Burghers? Descended from the Dutch, the Portuguese, the British and other foreigners who arrived in the island-nation of Sri Lanka (and 'mingled' with the local inhabitants), the Burghers often stand out because of their curiously mixed features-grey eyes in an otherwise Dravid face, for instance.... A handsome and guileless people, the Burghers have always lived it up, forever willing to 'put a party'. Carl Muller, a Burgher himself, writes in this quasi-fictional, engaging biography of the lives of his people; they emerge, at the end of his story, as a race of fun-loving, hardy people, much like the jam fruit tree which simply refuses to be contained or destroyed. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 16
Page 166
... boy with a sullenness that sat very deep . Cast in a happier mould Carloboy who was taken by Beryl to old Mrs Poulier's small private school in Wellawatte . Two Pouliers , actually - the old lady who was fat and pink and wore long ...
... boy with a sullenness that sat very deep . Cast in a happier mould Carloboy who was taken by Beryl to old Mrs Poulier's small private school in Wellawatte . Two Pouliers , actually - the old lady who was fat and pink and wore long ...
Page 195
... Carloboy to bring the ladder back . Beryl , on hearing the siren wail did what every mother was supposed to do . She took each of her children by the ear and and shoved them into the pantry shelter , wondering all the while what her ...
... Carloboy to bring the ladder back . Beryl , on hearing the siren wail did what every mother was supposed to do . She took each of her children by the ear and and shoved them into the pantry shelter , wondering all the while what her ...
Page 199
... Carloboy the army way to shine boots - rub in the boot blacking very thinly , then spit on the treated area and rub in the spittle with one finger swathed in soft cloth with a circular motion . Carloboy set to work with a will . Pthoo ...
... Carloboy the army way to shine boots - rub in the boot blacking very thinly , then spit on the treated area and rub in the spittle with one finger swathed in soft cloth with a circular motion . Carloboy set to work with a will . Pthoo ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Anna baby beef Beryl bloody Bloss bottle bring British brothers brought buggers Burgher cake called Carloboy carried Cecilprins child Christmas church Colombo Colontota coming considered course court daughter door drink eggs Elaine Elsie Elva Eric everything eyes face Father fellow Florrie fruit gate gave George getting girl give hand head Iris keep kitchen knew lady Lane Leah legs letter listen live look Lord Mama manner marry Maudiegirl months morning mother moved never never mind nice night nodded Opel Papa poor railway road shouting Sinhalese Sonnaboy sort sure talk tell thing thought told took Totoboy tree turned Viva wait wedding whole wife woman write