The Village in the JungleSidelined by Leonard Woolf's involvement in politics after he left the Civil Service, overshadowed by Virginia Woolf's continuous and brilliant achievement as a novelist, The Village in the Jungle (1913) fell from notice in Britain until, by the time its author died in 1969, it was almost forgotten. In Sri Lanka and southeast Asia, however, scholars recognize this classic novel as part of a distinguished literary line extending from Kipling through Conrad and Forster, to Paul Scott and Ruth Jhabvala. The value to scholarship of Professor Yasmine Gooneratne's edition is enhanced by perceptive comparisons, now made for the first time, of the novel's various editions with Woolf's original manuscript. Highlighting substantial amendments made by the author prior to publication, she shows in detailed notes how they reflect his passion for accuracy, his wish to maintain objectivity while writing of another culture, and his humane sympathy for the people among whom he had worked for seven years as a civil servant in Sri Lanka. explained, Sinhala words glossed, the novel's themes related to the politics of colonialism, and the entire work brought within the ambit of the 21st century. |
From inside the book
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Page 44
If you had asked them what their occupation was , they would have replied “ the
cultivation of rice ' , 21 but in reality they only cultivated rice about once in ten
years . Rice requires water in plenty ; it must stand in water for weeks before it
grows ...
If you had asked them what their occupation was , they would have replied “ the
cultivation of rice ' , 21 but in reality they only cultivated rice about once in ten
years . Rice requires water in plenty ; it must stand in water for weeks before it
grows ...
Page 101
At that tree take the path towards the hand with which you eat rice . Ss That is the
way to my father ' s house . ” And the Buddha went as Amara Devi had directed
him , and found the house , and went in . Amara Devi ' s mother was in the house
...
At that tree take the path towards the hand with which you eat rice . Ss That is the
way to my father ' s house . ” And the Buddha went as Amara Devi had directed
him , and found the house , and went in . Amara Devi ' s mother was in the house
...
Page 128
A great chena crop was assured . The more energetic began to talk of rice
cultivation , now that the tank was full , and to regret the want of seed paddy .
Then a rumour spread that the Government was going to make advances of seed
, and at ...
A great chena crop was assured . The more energetic began to talk of rice
cultivation , now that the tank was full , and to regret the want of seed paddy .
Then a rumour spread that the Government was going to make advances of seed
, and at ...
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - kaitanya64 - LibraryThingSet in colonial Ceylon, this novel is vivid and readable. While the author clearly illustrates a particular culture and time, that of a rural family in the "dry" forest area, where life is ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - Steve38 - LibraryThingDear me but this is a depressing book. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong for the main characters. Written from the point of view of impoverished, uneducated jungle dwellers in Sri Lanka by ... Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
aiya Aiyo appears Arachchi asked Babehami Babun became Beddagama began bring brother brought called Chapter charm chena child clear cloth compound crop daughter deer devil English evil eyes face father fear felt Fernando followed girl give given Government Growing Hamadoru hand hang head headman hear heard Hinnihami hunter interpreter judge jungle Kamburupitiya Karlinahami killing knew Korala leaves Leonard listened live looked Mahatmaya manuscript mind months Mudalali never night noted novel passage passed path prison Punchi Menika Punchirala Ratemahatmaya returned rice road round seemed seen side silence Silindu Sinhala Sinhalese stand stood story strange talk tell thing thought told took track trees trouble turned understand vederala village walked watched wife wild woman women Woolf young