The Founts of Sinhala Colin De Silva Harper Collins 1985

The Founts of Sinhala Colin De Silva Harper Collins 1985

The story was based on Prince Vijaya's conquest of Sri Lanka in the 6thC BC from the perspective of his twin brother. The twin may have been a manifestation in order to give a point of view close to the invader.

At times it seemed the conqueror was the evil that had to be fought and if the antagonists were not so clearly painted evil it would have made a more interesting struggle for control of the itland.

Initial battles took chapters to resolve whereas later conflicts were over in a paragraph. Another complaint was in the shallow treatment of female characters having little voice but bountiful buxoms.

It was particularily annoying when at the onset the new rulers claimed women would be treated equally but the author did not follow suit with treatment of his characters.