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. |
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Page 13
... talk so long with him . Because he is well - brought up . And railway man . He will be good husband for you ... talking to herself , and Beryl rattled cups and stamped her feet in the kitchen and poured out her woes to Soma , and while ...
... talk so long with him . Because he is well - brought up . And railway man . He will be good husband for you ... talking to herself , and Beryl rattled cups and stamped her feet in the kitchen and poured out her woes to Soma , and while ...
Page 99
... talk English . ' The Meerwalds preened themselves and basked in the glory of professor Ralph Meerwald . ' Sister's son , men , ' Papa Meerwald would say , ' and must just hear him talk . Like six books . And writing books also . One ...
... talk English . ' The Meerwalds preened themselves and basked in the glory of professor Ralph Meerwald . ' Sister's son , men , ' Papa Meerwald would say , ' and must just hear him talk . Like six books . And writing books also . One ...
Page 154
... talk talk talk the whole time and I'll go mad or something . ' Lyons listened and nodded sympathetically . Great God , he thought , the man could be talking of his own Margaret . . . ' Yes , I see what you mean . Anyway , I have very ...
... talk talk talk the whole time and I'll go mad or something . ' Lyons listened and nodded sympathetically . Great God , he thought , the man could be talking of his own Margaret . . . ' Yes , I see what you mean . Anyway , I have very ...
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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