![]() Quick Facts Title: Jam Fruit Tree (Book #1 of the Burgher trilogy) Author: Carl Muller Genre: Historical Fiction, Humor Publication year: 1993 Further Details - Good Reads "They accepted Centuries ago, that Sri Lanka was their land. There was never any thought that they could, if things got bad, pack and hide back to Holland or to wherever they could trace back to. They were at home and where else could they 'put a party' and enjoy life as much as home?" Carl Muller on the Burghers of Sri Lanka The First Book in the Burgher Trilogy is also one of Carl Muller's most famous work which describes the adventures and misadventures of the Von Bloss's and their extended families and friends. The writer himself refers to the novel as a work of "Faction"; a work of fiction that sails very close to the fact and is believed to have partly been inspired by the authors own life. The book describes the tumultuous lives of the Von Bloss family and their many extended family and friends through the period set in a time of transition in Sri Lanka. Like the Jam Fruit Tree that grows in the Von Bloss's garden, the Burgher's depicted in the novel are a hardy, fertile lot who like the tree cannot be tamed but nevertheless bear sweet fruit. In very vivid prose, key events of their lives including a Burgher funeral, Wedding, Christmas Party among many others in a very evocative way. The process of making the Christmas Cake ahead of the Christmas Season is particularly visceral and reveals the talent of the author. "Heaven, it seemed to him, was operating some sort of a laundering service." "That Viva making noises as if someone smashing his toes with rice-pounder. getting salvation, it seems. Lamb is washing his soul. Must be paining like Hell." As highlighted above, the key strength of the books humor lies in the prose of the book which is heavily interjected with heavy use of Sri Lankan Idioms and Vernacular phrases, swear words that is distinctly Sri Lankan. As the novel primarily depicts the life of working class Burghers, some of the language is somewhat more pedestrian to reflect this, but nevertheless enhances the humor of the novel. Apart from the humor in the language itself, the novel also describes some hilarious situations like the government agents futile attempt to take away Sonnaboy's furniture in Kadugannawa. But the book isn't all humor as it doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of the time such as Colourism, racism and patriarchy to put it more mildly. The language at times becomes quite crass and direct, possibly to contrast these issues with the more colourful descriptions used in the rest of the novel. While not as grim as Carl Muller's other work 'Colombo' which is far more bleak, the novel nevertheless does not shy away from highlighting these issues. The novel is set during the early 20th century during the British Colonial period and the author manages to bring to life in vivid prose the facets of life in Colombo at the turn of the Century. The novel describes facets of life at that time including schools, Universities, the origin of road names etc. that continue to endure today and which lends the novel its authenticity Carl Muller also praises the amazing tolerance of the burgher community. In the words of the author "Sri Lankan Burghers are as Strident as the most Strident Sinhala Native and in a sense most wholly embraces the Island mentality of 'Eat, drink and be Merry'. The author attributes the peaceful coexistence the Burghers have managed to maintain while integrating with the fabric of Sri Lankan culture to their ability to fit in no matter the circumstances. The author laments the ethnic conflict and the situation that has forced many Burghers to reluctantly leave their homeland. Overall anyone looking for a somewhat exaggerated glimpse into the past and as to what life was like in colonial Colombo should check out this novel.
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AuthorAvid reader of Historical fiction, High fantasy novels, Comics & Graphic Novels. Passionate about teaching & the future of education in general. Categories
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