L. C. Wijesinha; George Turnour

The Mahavansa [The Mahavamsa]

Colombo: G. J. A. Skeen, Government Printer, Ceylon, 1889.
First Edition.
25cm x 16cm. Quarto. [viii], iv, 167, xxxii, 411 pages. Half leather, full gilt spine, date panel, marbled papered boards and endpapers.

The first full translation into English prose of The Mahavamsa, the epic Pali poem which describes the ancient history of Sri Lanka. It is a primary source for many aspects of Sri Lanka's cultural, religious, and historical life. This edition contains the first translation of chapters 39 to 100 of the poem by Louis Corneille Wijesinha to which is prefixed the first 38 chapters translated by George Turnour and published in 1837, being here corrected and bearing annotations by Wijesinha, thus making this the first full English translation. This copy has been recently rebound in fine half-leather and bears the inscription of Donald Obeyesekere, MBE (1888-1964), a prominent Sri Lankan legislator who introduced boxing to the country after returning from studies at Cambridge.

Recently rebound in fine half leather. Very minor soiling to tail with minor soiling and foxing occasionally throughout. One dog-eared corner. Minor marginalia in pencil. Very Good Condition.