Sri Lanka Literary Essays & Sketches oleh Charles Sarwan

This anthology consists of articles on Sri Lankan literary works written (with a few exceptions) in English. For the benefit of non-Sri Lankan readers, something of the necessary historical, political and cultural background is provided. Broadening into the field of ‘cultural studies’, the volume includes comment on films based on, or relevant to, Sri Lanka. Published over several years (the first in 1989), the articles reflect changes in the Island and, therefore, in the concern of its writers. Section 2, ‘Related articles’, consists of a reading of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness from a Buddhist and Hindu perspective; an examination of the term racism, and a “meditation” on an aspect of the Sri Lankan exile experience. ‘Sketches’, the last section, contains two imaginative pieces and a factual, tsunami-related, incident. Altogether, this anthology will be of use not only to students of the Island’s English-language literature but also to those who have a general interest in Asia and Sri Lanka. About the Author : Charles Ponnuthurai Sarvan (born Ponnuthurai) studied at St Thomas’ College, Gurutalawa; briefly, at St Josephs’ College, Colombo, and then entered the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, where he read English. Two years after graduation, he left for England and is now a British citizen. Sarvan obtained the Postgraduate Diploma in English as a Second Language from Wales; the degree of Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of London. He is the contributing Editor of English Literature: Introductory Essays (National Educational Company, Lusaka, 1981) and co-author of Readings in Poetry (Lusaka, 1986). He has published extensively on African and British literature. Sarvan taught in Ceylon, England, Nigeria, Zambia, the Middle East and Germany. Now retired, he lives in Germany with his (German-born) wife, a published poet.