Free at Last in Paradise

<P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-layout-grid-align: none><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Times>FREE AT LAST IN PARADISE is a historical novel on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags /><st1:country-region w:st=on><st1:place w:st=on>Sri Lanka</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It is the first part of A SRI LANKAN TRILOGY FROM FREEDOM TO PEACE and deals with the period 1848 to 1948 when the country evolved into a modern nation and regained independence.</SPAN><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office /></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-layout-grid-align: none><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Times>It is a gripping novel tracing the path of the freedom movement in then <st1:country-region w:st=on>Ceylon</st1:country-region> from the 1848 rebellion to <st1:City w:st=on><st1:place w:st=on>Independence</st1:place></st1:City> in 1948. It features a Buddhist boy; a young novice in a temple later educated in missionary schools becomes a government functionary a forest monk and still later an erudite scholar whose life parallels the freedom movement driven mainly by the Buddhist revival led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and his followers Anagarika Dharmapala and Sir Baron Jayatilake. The hero was a strong nationalist deeply involved in the movement most of his adult life. </SPAN><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-layout-grid-align: none><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Times>Though a work of epic proportions full of information masterfully dissecting every aspect of social and family life with all its strains of caste and class as well as the political and cultural scene of Ceylon at the time it is a triumphant love story that is by turns dramatic and powerful romantic and tender that makes you want to keep reading. </SPAN><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-layout-grid-align: none><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Times>Displaying the author's dexterity the most readable prose is appropriately laced with exhilarating verse. This is an extraordinary novel that exemplifies the best of historical fiction. Somehow he has managed to make the story both educational and dare I say it fun! </SPAN><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-layout-grid-align: none><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Times>The book will be read with pleasure says David Vickery of <st1:country-region w:st=on>Britain</st1:country-region> by those who love <st1:country-region w:st=on><st1:place w:st=on>Ceylon</st1:place></st1:country-region> and introduce those who have no knowledge of the country to a fascinating society.</SPAN><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none><SPAN style=FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Adobe Garamond Pro'; mso-bidi-font-family: Times>Leslie Gray M.D. of <st1:place w:st=