Mahavamsa Dreaming was Fiona Van der Poorten – Sawyer’s first novel, published by Portal Press in 2005.
Readers were drawn into the story and full of praise for this emerging writer’s attempt at tying together the rich strands of ancient history with migrant experience.
26 to Infinity Press is pleased to offer readers this deeply moving account of a migrant family’s life in Australia for the price of $10.00 (aud) plus postage and handling
Legends of princesses and lions, demons and princes from the Mahavamsa, an ancient chronicle about the early kingdoms of Ceylon become the focus for a project that involves Darshi, Reba and Yasmin who are blood relations.
The chronicle is to be adapted into a modern film and all three characters have become involved, on some level, in the preliminary script writing process which requires them to draw on memories of their own lives.
But matching the ancient text with their own stories begins to unravel much more than the ancient mythology, for Darshi, Reba and Yasmine are haunted by the events of the past and touched by the secrets and resentments within their own family history.
Here are three interconnected narratives in a three generational family saga, which is as much about colonial and migrant, Australian and Sri-Lankan experience as about love and loss in a changing world.
Read a review by Lilamani Ebell
I wanted to tell you about the book Mahavamsa Dreaming. When I took it from you I almost regretted having agreed to read it because of all the above reasons and the attendant preparations.HOWEVER – let me tell you I began reading it on Monday morning and with a few stops for work which just HAD to be done, I ignored all the semi-important chores and finished it by Monday aternoon.
It gripped me.
I found it very interesting, very well written.
She has brought out so many facets of family relationships and tackled the question of the “Mahattaya” and his kept women in an extremely competent manner.
It is so easy to belabour the emotions when you tackle this question but she has written about it with such flair, it was a reat treat to read.
Thanks for giving me this book to read – I might not have come across it otherwise.
In fact – all the points or issues in the novel – the immigrant, the kept women, the families who ‘sell’ them; the illness, the family dynamics are brought out very well.
