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 67
... thought my heart will burst after running like that . Saw the eyes ? Like devil's . . . keep not thou silence O God for lo , thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee have lifted up the head ... my God , don't know how I ...
... thought my heart will burst after running like that . Saw the eyes ? Like devil's . . . keep not thou silence O God for lo , thine enemies make a tumult and they that hate thee have lifted up the head ... my God , don't know how I ...
Page 94
... thought . But that was all over . He shuddered instead at what lay ahead . A Sonnaboy , waiting six years was no pleasing prospect . Somehow he had to convince that da Brea woman to unbend . Meanwhile Iris took a long love - letter and ...
... thought . But that was all over . He shuddered instead at what lay ahead . A Sonnaboy , waiting six years was no pleasing prospect . Somehow he had to convince that da Brea woman to unbend . Meanwhile Iris took a long love - letter and ...
Page 103
... thought and thought . Then he made up his mind and went to bed that night feeling easier . The next morning he made a packet of all Beryl's letters , dressed neatly and went to the Holy Family Convent , Bambalapitiya where he stood at ...
... thought and thought . Then he made up his mind and went to bed that night feeling easier . The next morning he made a packet of all Beryl's letters , dressed neatly and went to the Holy Family Convent , Bambalapitiya where he stood at ...
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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