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 38
... Viva's fate . She would walk due north but those hips would swing east - west with minds of their own , making her buttocks bounce provocatively . Opel , too , liked the idea of being courted by a fellow who rode around in a van , hob ...
... Viva's fate . She would walk due north but those hips would swing east - west with minds of their own , making her buttocks bounce provocatively . Opel , too , liked the idea of being courted by a fellow who rode around in a van , hob ...
Page 39
... Viva . ' ' What to do ? All my love I sending , no ? You think I just write dearest Opel , I love you , Viva , and that is enough ? Wasting whole postcard , no ? Now see , I post one today also . Will get tomorrow . And I post ' nother ...
... Viva . ' ' What to do ? All my love I sending , no ? You think I just write dearest Opel , I love you , Viva , and that is enough ? Wasting whole postcard , no ? Now see , I post one today also . Will get tomorrow . And I post ' nother ...
Page 66
... Viva was decidedly mad . Sonnaboy was the first to rise and glare . ' What do you mean rubbish prayers . Our Father ... Viva shouting Halleluia . That , for Viva was most unfortunate , for Ludwick , with an incredible display of agility ...
... Viva was decidedly mad . Sonnaboy was the first to rise and glare . ' What do you mean rubbish prayers . Our Father ... Viva shouting Halleluia . That , for Viva was most unfortunate , for Ludwick , with an incredible display of agility ...
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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