Book review :

Entertaining family saga

Title: Hernando Villa - A Sri Lankan love Story
Author: Terrence Perera
Pages: 272
Vijitha Yapa Publications

The unusual tone of a family saga spanning multiple generations is later intertwined into a series of incidents in Terrence Perera’s ‘Hernando Villa’. The book sheds light on a typical Sri Lankan upper class family with a unique history.

It makes slight references to the strange and wondrous manner in which the family made its fortune in the beginning chapter and later devotes a section to elaborate the amusing tale of how the Gate Mudliyar managed to become acquainted with Prince Henry.

This incident carved the family’s destiny for it was through misunderstandings and misinterpretations that the man who was the gate keeper at the governor’s residence became a leading figure in local soil.

This incident raises a smile in the reader for it is ironic that so much of importance is attached to the person who vies to serve the colonial masters of the era.

This ‘white man worshipping’ nature is found throughout the incidents linked with the history of the family but when it comes to serious matters like marriage, matrimony with a foreigner is a taboo topic.

This is why we see that a romantic liaison between the Gate Mudliyar’s son, William, and the Earl’s daughter, Jane, creates a pandemonium. William’s mother threatens to commit suicide and William finds himself being forced to acquaint with a Sinhala girl whom he later marries.

History nearly repeats itself with slight alterations to certain details in the present context. This time it is Reshan and Malkanthi’s son, Nihal, who falls in love with a Tamil girl – his parents’ friends, the Rajanathans’ daughter, Padma. However unlike in history the couple succeeds in convincing their parents and ties the knot.

This portrays how the society has evolved and the perceptions of the elders and younger generations have changed throughout the years and forebode what the society holds for the future.

The central theme of the novel then seems to be ethnic relationships. We get bonds between foreigners and Sinhalese, Tamils and Sinhalese and Christians and Hindus.

They seem to get on well in their day to day life but as soon as certain barriers have been lifted or in delicate matters the embers of suspicion catches fire and rises to the top.

The book seems to comprise several short stories for each chapter seems to be a story of its own. You get 21 chapters and each chapter along encompasses an incident which can be taken individually as well as linked with the main story.

It is much like a jig saw puzzle put together to form the whole picture.

The story is written in simple sentences so that it is ideal for light reading. Yet the satire behind the tone describing the incidents sheds light on serious themes.

Many of the cultural and traditional practices endemic to Sri Lanka are brought to the fore with descriptive details so that event those who are not familiar with the customs will have no trouble grasping what is taking place.

The political change that the country has undergone too is projected in the background.

‘Hernando Villa’ is a book for readers from all walks of life as you will be able to identify a part of yourself or those around you with the ideologies or outlook of the characters, thought they have not been etched from any particular real life character.

- Ruwini Jayawardana