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 53
... bloody bull ! ' He got no sympathy from Sonnaboy . ' Half only ? Can eat a whole bull . ' Only Elsie pointed out that even a regiment of invitees couldn't possibly consume it all . ' Will have food for a month afterwards , wait and see ...
... bloody bull ! ' He got no sympathy from Sonnaboy . ' Half only ? Can eat a whole bull . ' Only Elsie pointed out that even a regiment of invitees couldn't possibly consume it all . ' Will have food for a month afterwards , wait and see ...
Page 59
... bloody bell . Totoboy , in a state bordering delirium tremens was howling : Nearer my God to thee , nearer to thee . until Sonnaboy told him to shut up , ' You thought this is a bloody funeral , you damn fool ! ' Viva insisted that ...
... bloody bell . Totoboy , in a state bordering delirium tremens was howling : Nearer my God to thee , nearer to thee . until Sonnaboy told him to shut up , ' You thought this is a bloody funeral , you damn fool ! ' Viva insisted that ...
Page 192
... bloody door ! ' Getting no answer , Sonnaboy stepped back , then hurled himself at the door which shot open with a crash of latches and hinges and was upon the priest before the man could say ' Quo Vadis ' . Father Robert had always ...
... bloody door ! ' Getting no answer , Sonnaboy stepped back , then hurled himself at the door which shot open with a crash of latches and hinges and was upon the priest before the man could say ' Quo Vadis ' . Father Robert had always ...
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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