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 9
... anney ( a Sinhala expression used loosely in conversation to express pain , dismay loss or grief ) . Let go , Mummee , it's hurting . ' Florrie was not satisfied . She had had her share of shame and her children were a trial ever since ...
... anney ( a Sinhala expression used loosely in conversation to express pain , dismay loss or grief ) . Let go , Mummee , it's hurting . ' Florrie was not satisfied . She had had her share of shame and her children were a trial ever since ...
Page 10
... anney ? And Millie working in the NAAFI and going in the night to Sailors Institute to dance . Now Beryl also fifteen and got breasts and have to tie cloth on those days . You sleep . What do you care ? Just because I come on your ...
... anney ? And Millie working in the NAAFI and going in the night to Sailors Institute to dance . Now Beryl also fifteen and got breasts and have to tie cloth on those days . You sleep . What do you care ? Just because I come on your ...
Page 32
... anney . Papa will kill for sure . You can become Catholic , no ? ' The Sinhalese gentleman , who rejoiced in the name of Dionysius Richard Colontota frowned . ' I thought of that , ' he said , ' but then my people kill me . ' ' So what ...
... anney . Papa will kill for sure . You can become Catholic , no ? ' The Sinhalese gentleman , who rejoiced in the name of Dionysius Richard Colontota frowned . ' I thought of that , ' he said , ' but then my people kill me . ' ' So what ...
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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