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ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Sri Lankan History, Medieval History, Political History

Book Review:
G. P. V. Somaratna's ''The Political History of the Kingdom of Kotte (1400-1521)'' is a foundational and enduringly important work of Sri Lankan historiography. First published in 1975, this meticulously researched study remains the definitive account of a crucial period in the island's history, and its 2016 reprint is a most welcome event for scholars and history enthusiasts alike.

The book focuses on the Kingdom of Kotte, which emerged as a major power in western Sri Lanka during the 15th century. Somaratna provides a comprehensive analysis of its political structures, tracing its rise, its consolidation under powerful rulers, its internal dynamics, and its external relations, particularly with other regional powers and emerging European powers. The chronological focus from 1400 to 1521 is significant, as it covers the kingdom's foundation, its golden age, and the period leading up to the arrival of the Portuguese, which would fundamentally alter the island's destiny.

Somaratna's scholarship is thorough and grounded in a careful reading of primary sources, including local chronicles, inscriptions, and foreign accounts. He examines the complexities of royal succession, the administrative apparatus, economic foundations, and the intricate web of alliances and conflicts that shaped the kingdom's politics.

In his introduction to the 2016 reprint, Professor Michael Roberts of the University of Adelaide highlights the book's enduring value and its role in stimulating further historical inquiry. He notes that Somaratna's ''welcome return'' and the reprint of this classic work will hopefully encourage new generations of researchers to engage with the history of this period, building upon and challenging earlier interpretations.

''The Political History of the Kingdom of Kotte'' is an essential text for anyone seriously interested in pre-colonial Sri Lankan history. It is a model of meticulous historical research and a vital contribution to our understanding of the island's complex political past.