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 23
Page 14
... Eric marvelled at this edifice of efficiency . Eric shared a counter with a Tamil clerk named Naiswamy and a freckled Burgher lad named Raux who was easier called Rooks and who whistled tonelessly all day . Eric lived in Dehiwela too ...
... Eric marvelled at this edifice of efficiency . Eric shared a counter with a Tamil clerk named Naiswamy and a freckled Burgher lad named Raux who was easier called Rooks and who whistled tonelessly all day . Eric lived in Dehiwela too ...
Page 15
... Eric would cower near the sofa with its ghastly purple flower pattern and say , ' I'm sorry , Mama , ' and Aggie would charge him like an enraged buffalo and twist a fat forearm around his neck and drag him to the centre of the hall ...
... Eric would cower near the sofa with its ghastly purple flower pattern and say , ' I'm sorry , Mama , ' and Aggie would charge him like an enraged buffalo and twist a fat forearm around his neck and drag him to the centre of the hall ...
Page 18
... Eric , he was senior tally master and the port of Colombo sang his praises in fifty different sharps and flats . ' You know , ' he told Eric , ' high time I also got married , no ? ' Eric nodded like a puppet . He had always admired ...
... Eric , he was senior tally master and the port of Colombo sang his praises in fifty different sharps and flats . ' You know , ' he told Eric , ' high time I also got married , no ? ' Eric nodded like a puppet . He had always admired ...
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