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 18
... George's arrivals and departures in so regal a fashion impressed his fellow - workers no end . Yet , he remained a ... George . Even when they were children he always bowled and George always batted . Eric never had the courage to ask to ...
... George's arrivals and departures in so regal a fashion impressed his fellow - workers no end . Yet , he remained a ... George . Even when they were children he always bowled and George always batted . Eric never had the courage to ask to ...
Page 24
... George yelled . We not mean insult , child ... ' Maudiegirl began . ' Egg powder ! ' George roared . ' You give all back , right , ' Jembo growled from the garden . George was hitting second wind . He tore Cecilprins letter into shreds ...
... George yelled . We not mean insult , child ... ' Maudiegirl began . ' Egg powder ! ' George roared . ' You give all back , right , ' Jembo growled from the garden . George was hitting second wind . He tore Cecilprins letter into shreds ...
Page 204
... George sat , picking his nose and grunting at everybody who tried to pick a conversation with him . Men strolled around the garden , heads turned to the sky . Sonnaboy had seen Japanese raiders right over his head . They hoped to see ...
... George sat , picking his nose and grunting at everybody who tried to pick a conversation with him . Men strolled around the garden , heads turned to the sky . Sonnaboy had seen Japanese raiders right over his head . They hoped to see ...
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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