Novel set in Sri Lanka (a book full of mystical history) Plus author QA
- Book: River of Ink
- Location: Polonnaruwa
- Author: Paul M M Cooper
A lovely physical book is just such a great opener to a good story! Paul’s book has a striking cover, an era-appropriate stylus (which he carefully researched for the period, see below), flowing ink, turning turquoise. The complementary colour to turquoise is the colour of blood and were they to be placed adjacent to each other, they would harmoniously balance. That is why we chose to set the book cover against a blood red (palm fringed) background, which really throws the book into sharp relief.
Blood. Already a veiled hint of what is to come in the book…..
Sri Lanka of the 13th Century. Kalingha Magha, the ruthless despot, arrives on Lanka’s shores and deposes the presiding ruler, changing the lives of all who live there, including Asanka, the court poet. The book brims with mysticism and symbolism, and opens with the twittering mynah birds in the city of Polonnaruwa – these are birds are deemed to be ‘brimming with happiness‘ but as the story unfolds, life is anything but happy.
Asanka is instructed by Magha to translate the ancient Sanskrit Shishupala Vadha, with the intention that it will be circulated amongst the populace and have a civilising effect, whilst aiding their subjugation. But Asanka’s love for Sarasi motivates him to insert subversive texts, skilfully done. Craftily Magha is depicted as the evil character. The pen of course is mightier than the sword – “if you can write, you can do anything”.
The exotic location magically comes to life in the hands of this talented author, the heat and dust, the smells of old palm leaves on the roofs, and the visual descriptions leave the reader reeling with colour, smell and feel of a city, whose place in Sri Lankan history dwindled from 1255. The author has clearly carried out extensive research into the period and into the life of a scribe – he details the kinds of oils used – dummala and kakuna oils – to mix the inks for writing; and that dried fruits skins were lit to keep evening insects away….
The quality of writing is elegant, lyrical and well crafted, full of mystical history, lore and legend…
This review first appeared on our blog, where we talk to the author about writing, research and Sri Lanka
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