Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, has fascinated critics and readers alike, engaging them in highly controversial debate as it deals with fundamental issues of good and evil, civilisation, race, love and heroism.

This classic tale transcends the boundaries of time and place and has inspired famous film and television adaptations emphasising the cultural significance and continued relevance of the book.

This guide to Conrad's captivating novel offers:

* an accessible introduction to the text and contexts of Heart of Darkness;

* a critical history, surveying the many interpretations of the text from publication to the present;

* a selection of new essays and reprinted critical essays on Heart of Darkness, by Ian Watt, Linda Dryden, Ruth Nadephaft, J. Hillis Miller and Peter Brooks, providing a range of perspectives on the novel and extending the coverage of key critical approaches identified in the survey section;

* cross-references between sections of the guide, in order to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism;

* suggestions for further reading.

Part of the Routledge Guides to Literature series, this volume is essential reading for all those beginning a detailed study of Heart of Darkness and seeking not only a guide to the novel, but a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds Conrad's text.

D. C. R. A. Goonetilleke is Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He is a well-established and recognised critic of twentieth century and post-colonial literature and his books include Developing Countries in British Fiction, Images of the Raj. Joseph Conrad: Beyond Culture and Salman Rushdie.

Secret behind Dutugamunu's success

Title: Dasa Maha Yodhayo

Author: Siri Nissanka Perera

Publisher: Sarasavi Publishers

by Prof. J. Tilakasiri

This presentation of the legendary and heroic deeds of the brigade of local fighters and defenders of the faith during the period of king Dutugemunu's reign is indeed a very timely publication to remind readers of the glorious past of our land.

It was a period when foreign invaders of our land were threatening the peace and stability which our rulers had achieved by efforts of our valiant soldiers who combined their adherence to the Buddhist teachings and precept that had guided the rulers in bringing prosperity, growth and economic and social development.

The mighty army of the Ten Fighters rescued the country from the foreign incursions and strengthened the power of Dutugemunu and also contributed to the enhancement of patriotic and national feelings of the people.

It is also a significant observation the author makes that except for Nandimitra all the fighters hailed from the South of the country. :Ruhuna which has been known for the heroic and patriotic movements in the defence of the land and the religion.

With his keen discernment of events the author chooses particular events and also institutions which brought the fighters to the fore and thereby the king was endowed with the required needs of the country's defences. The setting-up of an espionage unit is observed as a response on the part of Velusumana to furnish and fulfil princess Viharamahadevi's wishes.

Elara, though a foreigner occupied and ruled over Rajarata for some time, but as a righteous leader, respected and valued Buddhist ideals and received even the commendation of Dutugemunu that all people passing his tomb pay due respect to his memory.

The heroic struggle which Dutugemunu waged was not only meant to recover the lost power from foreign forces but was undertaken with the decisive aim of preserving and venerating Buddhism in our land.

The author has presented these character sketches of the Ten Fighters from his understanding of the episodes concerning their deeds, coloured by narrative and historical perspectives.

He has been a student of both history and archaeology and a researcher of antiquities and inscriptions, acquiring competent knowledge by earning post-graduate degrees.

His compilation of the essays of the ten fighters offers a comprehensive survey of historical literary and narrative data culled from his personal knowledge and visits to sites and places to record the events and relate them to the present relics.

In three additional chapters he furnishes valuable information on the Swarnamali Chaitya, Lovamaha Prasadaya and Mirisavetiya which supplies essential evidence of the facts and events discussed and forms a useful background to his presentation.

He has also a mature knowledge of his subject material as he has served as an Asst. Director of Cultural Affairs and as the External Editor of the Sinhala Encyclopaedia. He has been an active writer and contributor of essays and articles to many journals and published books on a variety of topics.

The book is very elegantly designed and produced and published attractively by Sarasavi Publishers.

Bandula Harischandra deserves special commendation for his cover design and the striking black and white figures and sketches of the ten yodhayas, thus brought to life to enhance the essays. In conclusion it needs to be said that the book should be on the shelves of all students interested in the study of the historical and heroic figures enriching our island's history.

This book has already been recommended as a school library book by the secretary of the Education Publication Advisory Board.

Perfect diagnosis

Title: The Art of Clinical Medicine

Author: Dr. S.D.K. Perera. MD, FRCP (London) FRCP (Glasgow) FACG

Published by Saraswathie Publishers

by Professor U.S. Jayawickrama

It is the duty of teachers of medicine to impart to students their experience in the practice of the art and science of clinical medicine. This is of particular importance in an age where clinical medicine is threatened with extinction.

Computerized laboratory investigations and sophisticated procedures are being widely used to make a diagnosis without a careful clinical examination. It is much more satisfying to the clinician to make a diagnosis of a lung abscess or hypothyroidism on clinical history and examination and confirm this by appropriate investigatory procedures, rather than through the reverse.

Dr. Perera has made a determined effort to give the details of eliciting the history and physical signs and their interpretation, with illustrations and useful differential diagnoses. This book should prove to be a useful aid to students who are now studying medicine and to those who wish to re-learn the art and science of clinical medicine.

He concludes by listing the complete investigatory procedures that need to be done in different clinical disorders.

A medical student who has the ambition to pursue clinical medicine to it's logical conclusion must remember word by word Dr. Perera's accurate instructions. Judged from the little knowledge I possess of the vagaries of body and mind Dr. S.D.K Perera's erudite exposition on clinical medicine merits commendation as it is a valuable contribution to the relevant field both here in Sri Lanka and in the international sphere.

An inspiring odyssey

by Yasasiri Janaka Kumara

As in the case of many African countries, any reference to Somalia, portrays a picture of a country deep in political turmoil, drought, famine and warfare. This picture painted by the international media consolidates its effect, because for them not only African countries but the entire third world is a fertile ground for transmitting stories about, drought, floods, famine, civil war and political turmoil.

True, the country is affected by a civil war even today. But it is very rarely that media personalities focus their attention on the struggle of the ordinary African people to lead a morally contended life, amidst the turbulent situations, as well as their strength of enormous patience in overcoming the harsh environmental obstacles in their daily lives.

In such a scenario the task of portraying an authentic picture of experiences of fellow citizens and their struggles have become the responsibility of the artistes and a handful of public spirited people.

The situation in Somalia is no different. Waris Dirie's "Desert Flower" is a striking personal odyssey that proves in no uncertain terms that like ordinary people of many other countries, Somalian women, too do appreciate and understand the wonders of nature, the animals, the trees and a drop of water, and are engaged in a bitter struggle to overcome the hazards of nature as well as the brutality imposed on them by man himself.

As Elton John has described "Waris's Story is one of remarkable courage. From the desert of Somalia to the world of high fashion she battles against oppression and emerges a real champion. She is the most beautiful inspiration to any one."

Waris in this insightful and inspiring story presents the barriers and sexual brutality imposed on teenage girls and women by social and cultural traditions, in addition to the hazards of nature and the political turmoil engulfing them.

Waris Dirie is encouraged by her mother to run away from this oppressive life of the desert. A mother's determination to see at least one of her twelve children liberate herself from the misery and discrimination against women encourages Waris Dirie to run away from the desert in her teens with only her name and the tattered shawl as protection.

The nomadic girl was fortunate in reaching the Somalian capital Mogadishu first, then London and New York displaying her courage and determination.

A chance meeting with a fashion photographer when she was a maid in her uncle's house in London set her in motion in the world of fashion. She reaches the top bracket of superstars of the fashion world such as Cindy Crawford, Nayomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Lauren Hutton etc.., not by moving over from one bed of roses to another, but by her stunning beauty and versatility as a super model.

She later marries her man of choice as an African girl who was courageous enough to protect her virtue and dignity.

The true story of Waris Dirie as unravelled in "Desert Flower" gains recognition not because it is a story about how an uneducated nomadic girl reaches the top in the fashion world but because she had the courage to tell the world unashamedly how the social traditions and institutions are oppressing African women and the horrors of female genital mutilation the teenage girls are subjected to by them through her irresistible first person account.

This exposure by her paves the way for building up world opinion against this brutality done to women through thousands of years.

This is how she poignantly reflects on her life.

"I could never explain why so many things happened in my life by pure chance. But I don't really believe in the concept of pure chance; there has to be more to our lives than that. God saved me from a lion in the desert when I ran away from home and from that moment on I felt he had a plan for me, some reason to keep me alive. But if it was for a reason, what was that reason.

My parents were both victims of their upbringing, cultural practices that have continued unchanged for thousands of years. But just as we know today that we can avoid disease and death by vaccinations, we know that women are not animals in heat, and their loyalty has to be earned with trust and affection rather than barbaric rituals. The time has come to leave the old ways of suffering behind.

I felt that God made my body perfect the way I was born. Then man robbed me, took away my power of life and left me a cripple. My womanhood was stolen. If God had wanted those body parts missing, why did he create them? I just pray that one day no woman will have to experience this pain."

As she emphasises chance meetings have propelled her from the Somalian deserts to the world stage first as a maid, then as a super model and finally as a United Nations special Ambassador. The turning points in her remarkable career are the spotting of her and her hidden beauty and potential as a model by the renowned photographers Malcolm Fairchild and Terrance Donovan, the appearance of her picture in the front page of "Sunday Times" of London, her interview with the fashion magazine 'Marie Claire' which discloses her story to the world.

The stroke of fate intervene once again when Barbara Walters after reading the interview by accident takes the decision to feature Dirie in her popular programme 20/20 in a segment titled 'the healing journey'.

This opened the eyes of the United Nations which in turn took measures to build up world opinion against this brutality against women by appointing Waris Dirie a United Nations special Ambassador. The BBC documentary on Waris's harrowing story gave her the unexpected reunion with her mother after she ran away from the desert many decades ago.

This is how Dr. Nafis Sadik Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has described Waris Dirie's role.

"Waris Dirie is a remarkable and courageous person. Her story is an inspiration. Not only did Waris overcome obstacles that would defeat most people but as UNFPA special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, she will serve as a leader in the struggle to end forms of discrimination against women."

"Desert Flower" the international best seller in 1998 has so far been translated into 14 languages. Now this inspiring story has been translated into Sinhala titled "Kantharaye Kusuma" by Ranjith Kuruppu.

Ranjith Kuruppu's simple but flowing style of writing presents a novel experience to the Sinhala reader, enriching their knowledge and perspectives about the developments in socio-cultural activities around the world.