Cinnamon Gardens - Hardcover

Selvadurai, Shyam

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786864737 ISBN 13: 9780786864737

Publisher: Hachette Books, 1999

Synopsis

Set among the upper classes in the gracious, repressive world of 1920s Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Cinnamon Gardens tells the brilliantly intertwined stories of two extraordinary characters.

Annalukshmi is a strong-willed young woman whose family is intent upon arranging a proper marriage for her, forcing her to question whether the independence she craves will doom her to a life without love and companionship. Her uncle Balendran, respectably married, struggles to suppress his secret desire for men. The sudden arrival of a former lover, however, threatens to destroy his carefully constructed world. Both Annalukshmi and Balendran must determine if it is possible to pursue personal happiness without compromising the happiness of others. And both must draw on hidden reserves to resist the pressures of society and, even more crushing, the expectations they have placed on themselves.

This masterfully plotted novel takes us beneath the polished veneer of fragrant gardens and manners to reveal a world of splintered families, forbidden emotions, and lives destroyed by prejudice. With its sensuous atmosphere, richly drawn characters, and astonishing ability to conjure time and place, Cinnamon Gardens is a riveting novel that speaks of the issues readers grapple with today, while evoking the great historical works of fiction they love.

Selvadurai's critically acclaimed first novel, Funny Boy, was hailed as "first rate fiction from a brilliant writer whose next book cannot arrive here quickly enough" (Kirkus Reviews). Now, Cinnamon Gardens--an unforgettable tale of history, family, love, and destiny--confirms Selvadurai's promise as one of the most distinctive and talented novelists from a new generation.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Set in 1920s? Ceylon, during the turbulent closing days of colonial rule, this evocative story of intertwined lives takes us behind the fragrant gardens and polished surfaces of the elite who reside in a wealthy suburb of Colombo to reveal a world of splintered families, conflicted passions, and lives destroyed by class hatred. Annalukshmi, a spirited young schoolteacher, finds herself caught between her family?s pressures to marry and her own desire for a more independent life. Then there is her uncle Balendran, whose comfortable life of privilege is rocked by the arrival of Richard, a lover from his past. Their uneasy reunion re-ignites tensions with Balendran?s powerful father, and threatens all on which Balendran has built his present life. Sensual, perceptive, and wise, Cinnamon Gardens is a novel of exceptional achievement ? an exquisite tapestry of lives.

From the Back Cover

“A near-miraculous capturing of life and love (both gay and straight), family tensions, political upheaval, labour unrest and feminism in the Ceylon of the 1920s....”
–Edmonton Journal

“Faultlessly elegant....Selvadurai is expert in capturing the nuances of this particularly precious time and place.”
–New York Times Book Review

“Subtle and deeply humane...Shyam Selvadurai has established himself firmly as an important chronicler of the complexities of social and cultural difference....”
–Books in Canada

“Selvadurai’s nuanced prose evokes the country’s dense climate and lush beauty.”
–Toronto Star

“Richly rewarding....This is a novel that deserves, and will surely gain, a wide readership.”
–Sunday Times (U.K.)

About this edition

• Publisher: Hachette Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0786864737
• ISBN 13: 9780786864737
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 368