Return to Sri Lanka cover art

Return to Sri Lanka

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Return to Sri Lanka

By: Razeen Sally
Narrated by: Razeen Sally
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About this listen

 'Sally's book is an exemplar of the best in the genre' Krishnan Srinivasan, The Statesman

A blend of travel writing, memoir, history and current affairs that tells the story of Sri Lanka. A perfect read for first-time visitors, Sri Lankans abroad or at home, or anyone looking to deepen their understanding of one of the world’s most fascinating and paradoxical countries.

Razeen Sally was born to a Sri Lankan Muslim father and a Welsh mother. Just before his teens, a political conflict tore his family apart and he left Sri Lanka, barely going back for thirty years.

When he finally returned ‘home’, he spent much of the next decade crisscrossing the island, trying to understand this paradoxical place. Blessed with nature’s bounty and an easy, pleasure-loving people, it was nevertheless scarred by ethnic conflict and the violence of civil war.

As a native and a tourist, Sally makes an ideal guide to Sri Lanka’s past and present. He won’t tell you which restaurant has the best reviews or the price of a hotel room. Instead, he will accompany you like a learned friend, sharing his journeys, pointing out the unmissable gems beyond the obvious spots, and unpacking the nation’s culture and history. Insightful, intimate and moving, Return to Sri Lanka is an indispensable book, whether you're already familiar with this spectacular country, or planning your first visit. Asia Cultural & Regional

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Critic reviews

‘Insightful’
‘Comprehensive’
‘Vivid’
‘A dazzling travelogue about a country that refuses to be at peace with itself . . . It was hard to put the book down’
‘A modern-day vagabond walking the less travelled paths of Sri Lanka’ (Captain Elmo Jayawardena)
‘A mine of information about Sri Lanka, its people and politics from someone with considerable knowledge and expertise’ (Frank Beyer)
‘Sally’s book is an exemplar of the best in the genre’ (Krishnan Srinivasan )
‘This highly readable book captures the spirit of a nation’ (Gurcharan Das, author of India Unbound)
All stars
Most relevant
An unbelievably informative audio book. Razeen Sally explains Sri Lanka’s glorious past history which unfortunately has been tainted by class and racial problems.

But what country hasn’t.

It’s a lesson in tolerance and respect for different religions and ethnicity in a world where bigotry is becoming so popular.

Razeen Sally’s soothing voice.

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Having visited Sri Lanka twice this book is a must for anyone who loves the place

Mixture of the history of Sri Lanka and the analysis of the religious history of the island

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a wonderful picture of Sri Lanka painted in varied and intricate detail. a delight to listen to

the variety of subjects covered

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The authors voice is very soothing but in equal parts not engaging. I really struggled to feel gripped on this book despite its well written content because the narration felt very one tone.

Interesting book but hard to stay engaged

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I like multigenerational memoirs for learning more about cultures and societies throughout different periods of time. This book unfortunately didn’t grip my attention as I found it rambling on about minuscule details and at times rattling down historical facts. For now, I’m abandoning listening half way through.

Overly focused on minor details at the expense of narrative momentum.

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