Cyril Siresena is an Oxford-educated attorney who heads the leading law firm in Colombo. Though his background is Sinhalese Buddhist, Cyril is westernized and secular. He has never regretted recruiting a Tamil Hindu partner into the firm. VK Sivaratnam is a hard-working lawyer who shares a close friendship with Cyril. As Cyril begins to rediscover his Sinhalese Buddhist roots and reject the identity of brown Englishman, he embarks on a quest for authenticity that is soon complicated when he falls in love with Sita, VK's wife. Meanwhile, the climate around them is one of growing ethnic conflict as tension increases between the Tamil minority and the Sinhalese majority. But when Sinhalese extremists begin launching violent attacks on the Tamils, suddenly VK and Sita are in fear for their lives. In the midst of the deadliest violence in Sri Lanka's history, Cyril must do everything in his power to rescue his partner and the woman he adores from those intent on destroying their world forever. Donald E. Smith's Cyril of Serendip: A Novel of Sri Lanka is an enjoyable and perceptive work of fiction that captures extremely well the sociopolitical atmosphere of the early years of political independence. The novel is an authentic portrayal of struggles, both individual and societal, to forge identity based on conflicting visions of the Sri Lankan past. The story impinges on the contemporary in significant ways. -Tissa Jayatilaka, Executive Director, United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission

Cyril Siresena is an Oxford-educated attorney who heads the leading law firm in Colombo. Though his background is Sinhalese Buddhist, Cyril is westernized and secular. He has never regretted recruiting a Tamil Hindu partner into the firm. VK Sivaratnam is a hard-working lawyer who shares a close friendship with Cyril. As Cyril begins to rediscover his Sinhalese Buddhist roots and reject the identity of brown Englishman, he embarks on a quest for authenticity that is soon complicated when he falls in love with Sita, VKs wife. Meanwhile, the climate around them is one of growing ethnic conflict as tension increases between the Tamil minority and the Sinhalese majority. But when Sinhalese extremists begin launching violent attacks on the Tamils, suddenly VK and Sita are in fear for their lives. In the midst of the deadliest violence in Sri Lankas history, Cyril must do everything in his power to rescue his partner and the woman he adores from those intent on destroying their world forever. Donald E. Smiths Cyril of Serendip: A Novel of Sri Lanka is an enjoyable and perceptive work of fiction that captures extremely well the sociopolitical atmosphere of the early years of political independence. The novel is an authentic portrayal of struggles, both individual and societal, to forge identity based on conflicting visions of the Sri Lankan past. The story impinges on the contemporary in significant ways. Tissa Jayatilaka, Executive Director, United StatesSri Lanka Fulbright Commission

Names are so important as they identify and distinguish us from everyone else. But its not just our own names that hold such fascination those of the rich and famous play a great part in our lives. Felix Schrodinger and Pyotr Stilovsky have compiled in this, the second volume of the series, a compendium of information which will appeal to all who are intrigued with names and seek out knowledge for its own sake.

24 more tales representing the very best in travel writing, plus thoroughly researched guidebook information.

Columbanus ("The Dove of the Church"), not to be confused with his near-contemporary Columba of Iona, was a towering figure in the religious and political life of Europe in the Dark Ages. In this lively biography of the saint, Carol Richards evokes the violent and unstable age that laid the foundations for the achievements of the Middle Ages.