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
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Page 27
... Burgher ( from the Dutch ' burgher ' or townsman ) . The brew was further spiced by other foreign types who drifted in and out with each East Indiaman that sailed in - French , Germans , Persians , Indians , Afghans ( who became very ...
... Burgher ( from the Dutch ' burgher ' or townsman ) . The brew was further spiced by other foreign types who drifted in and out with each East Indiaman that sailed in - French , Germans , Persians , Indians , Afghans ( who became very ...
Page 38
... Burgher ' of completely convoluted ancestry . She also had hips one could put a saddle on . It was the hips that ... Burgher fellow , no ? After all , we also Burghers , ' and Pantis spat betel juice and scowled . ' See how now getting ...
... Burgher ' of completely convoluted ancestry . She also had hips one could put a saddle on . It was the hips that ... Burgher fellow , no ? After all , we also Burghers , ' and Pantis spat betel juice and scowled . ' See how now getting ...
Page 100
... Burgher upper , middle and lower class . But , in fact , hardly any lower class for , as a rule , the Burghers themselves considered it comfortable to be labelled middle class with the fine distinctions of upper and lower middle , while ...
... Burgher upper , middle and lower class . But , in fact , hardly any lower class for , as a rule , the Burghers themselves considered it comfortable to be labelled middle class with the fine distinctions of upper and lower middle , while ...
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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