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 54
... nodded gravely . ' Why ? Anna not tell you ? She knows we don't eat meat . Only fish . ' Sonnaboy shrugged . ' What about your people . All fish - eating only ? ' Colontota nodded again . ' And won't drink . Only my father . But he won ...
... nodded gravely . ' Why ? Anna not tell you ? She knows we don't eat meat . Only fish . ' Sonnaboy shrugged . ' What about your people . All fish - eating only ? ' Colontota nodded again . ' And won't drink . Only my father . But he won ...
Page 90
... nodded with slight regret . He couldn't imagine his masterpieces consigned to the kitchen fire . Anyway , Iris agreed and actually unhooked her lower lip to smile , and Sonnaboy smiled and thought what a fine girl she was and how he had ...
... nodded with slight regret . He couldn't imagine his masterpieces consigned to the kitchen fire . Anyway , Iris agreed and actually unhooked her lower lip to smile , and Sonnaboy smiled and thought what a fine girl she was and how he had ...
Page 180
... nodded at each other . Boys , they agreed , will be boys . Sonnaboy warmed to his theme . ' Why , you remember when there was a board advertising that some land was to be sold ? ' ' Where , here in Bambalapitiya ? ' ' No , in Dehiwela ...
... nodded at each other . Boys , they agreed , will be boys . Sonnaboy warmed to his theme . ' Why , you remember when there was a board advertising that some land was to be sold ? ' ' Where , here in Bambalapitiya ? ' ' No , in Dehiwela ...
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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