Kaleidoscope:

Anthology of infinite variety

Kaleidoscope: An Anthology of Sri Lankan English Literature, Volume 2

D.C.R.A. Goonetilleke (ed.), (Vijitha Yapa Publications, April 2010).
Rs. 450

Just as Sri Lanka, an island with an area of 65,610 sq km offers an infinite variety from hailstones and conifers in Nuwara Eliya to palms and blazing beaches in Negombo and Bentota, this anthology offers a wide range of genres, styles, materials and moods to stimulate and entertain the reader.

There is stark contrast between a restrained yet poignant ‘Sisters in Dignity’ and the bizarre hilarious satire of ‘Maleeshya’. We have the touching fantasy of a lonely child and the harsh tragedy of a man who is an amalgam of two warring races.

‘The Visitor’ has something of the chill of Henry James’ ‘The Turn of the Screw’ where the focus is on the narrator of a supernatural tale. We see multiple aspects of the war - the terror, tension, hope and endurance of the relationships between places and people.

The section devoted to poetry has the virtue of accessibility and offers wit as well as profundity and sensual pleasure, while the drama of ‘A Somewhat Mad and Grotesque Comedy’ with its black humour based on fratricide and socio-economic aspirations is perhaps a precognition of the later conflict.

The anthology offers the reader varied enjoyment as well as imparts a fresh awareness of Sri Lanka and its Literature in English.

D.C.R.A. Goonetilleke, Emeritus Professor of English, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, was International Chairperson of the Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (1993-97); Vice-President of the Federation Internationale des Languages et Literatures Modernes (1993-99); Fellow Commoner, Churchill College, University of Cambridge; Foundation Visiting Fellow, Clare Hall, University of Cambridge; Henry Charles Chapman Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London; and Guest Professor of English at the University of Tubingen, Germany. ( well-established critic of twentieth-century and postcolonial literature, and the leading authority on Sri Lankan English literature, his books include Developing Countries in British Fiction (1977), Images of the Raj: South Asia in the Literature of Empire (1988), Joseph Conrad: Beyond Culture and Background (1990), Salman Rushdie (1998), all published by Macmillan (London); Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (London: Routledge, 2007) and Sri Lankan English Literature and the Sri Lankan People 1917-2003 (2005, 2nd edition. 2007). He edited Joseph Conrad: Heart of Darkness (Canada: Broadview Press, 1995, 2nd edn. 1999, reprinted 2007), The Penguin New Writing in Sri Lanka (1992), The Penguin Book of Modern Sri Lankan Stories (1996) and Kaleidoscope: An Anthology of Sri Lankan English Literature (2007). The second edition of Salman Rushdie (London and New York: Palgrave Macmillan) appeared in 2009.

Commendable novel

Fires from Kili

Author: Ayesha Herath

This fiction is a saga of a country lass who is undergoing immense socio-political experiences in her life. It portrays the situations and happenings in the country. Ayesha has made use of many incidents for her maiden literary work that will be interesting to the reader.

We are commemorating the victory over terrorism after fighting a major battle in our region. Our soldiers fought valiantly and neutralised the barbaric atrocities of the LTTE. I am happy to note that energetic writers such as Ayesha are active on the job.

The country needs the development of character with more intellectual activities. Ayesha’s inspiring story basically deals with the devastation of the LTTE terrorism that did the greatest harm to the country. Many people irrespective of their ethnicity suffered as a result.

The principal character of the story hails from a rural village and moves on to Kandy.

Ayesha’s work has added significance as it is published in English. Many authors are reluctant to do so because English literature in this country is not so developed. Her commitment to write a novel of this nature is commendable.

- by Major General Shavendra Silva

Alen saha Poojaniya Pushpaya

S. Chandrasiri Dassanayake’s “Alan Saha Pujaniya Pushpaya” will be launched at the Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Ven. S. Mahinda Mawatha, Colombo 10 on June 1 at 10 a.m.

“Alan Saha Pujaniya Pushpaya” is the authentic Sinhala translation of H. Rider Haggard’s popular book “Allan and the Holy Flower.”

Dassanayake is the author of several books including “Zendave Sirakaruva, Jamaika Thanayama, Manthra Kariyage Sirasa, Pragnave Diyaniya Ayesha, Amen Deviyage Diyaniya, Sheeba Rajinage Muduva, Arunodaye Rejina, Cleopaatra, and “Meedume Minissu”.“

Alan Saha Pujaniya Pushpaya” is a Dayawansa Jayakody publication.