Tab Article

ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Literary Criticism, Cultural Studies, Sri Lankan Studies, Essays

Book Review:
Professor A.V. Suraweera's ''Essays on Sri Lankan Literature & Culture'' is an invaluable and erudite collection that stands as a testament to a lifetime of scholarly engagement with the island's rich intellectual and artistic heritage. This volume brings together fifteen insightful essays that illuminate the complex interplay between Sinhala literature and the broader currents of Sri Lankan society and culture.

The essays range from broad surveys, such as the introduction to modern Sinhala fiction and its relationship with social change, to finely honed analyses of specific works and authors. Suraweera's examination of Martin Wickramasinghe's novels Gamperaliya and Viragaya through the lenses of realism and modernism is particularly illuminating, as is his literary-geographic study comparing the ''people and places'' in the works of Wickramasinghe and K. Jayatilake. The collection also ventures beyond purely literary topics, offering valuable essays on the history of classical text publication and editing in Sinhala, the Katikāvats (codes of conduct for the Sangha), and the fascinating connection between Sri Lankan culture and traditional medicine.

Later essays address contemporary concerns, including discipline in higher education, aspects of the present cultural crisis, and a Sri Lankan perspective on the globalization of the written word. Throughout, Suraweera writes with clarity, authority, and a deep passion for his subject. This book is an essential resource for students, scholars, and anyone seeking a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the forces that have shaped Sri Lankan literature and culture. It is a masterful work of criticism and a vital contribution to the field.