Overview

For nearly 1400 years, the Anuradhapura Kingdom flourished as one of the great civilisations of the ancient world. Its capital, resplendent with gleaming white dagobas and huge monasteries with thousands of monks proclaimed its opulence and grandeur. The people and their unique culture prospered. Then, in the space of just a few years, it was snuffed out, abandoned, engulfed by forest, and forgotten. What happened? Why did a civilisation that had thrived for so long suddenly collapse and disappear into the realms of folk memory? Who caused it? Why did it happen? The Story of Anuradhapura is a beautifully illustrated, easy to read book that presents the fascinating tale of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. Senani Ponnamperuma is a brilliant storyteller, who for the very first time has brought the story of this great civilisation alive. Using a crisp narrative style and numerous illustrations and photographs he brings to light much new information and many previously unknown and overlooked facts. This book is ideal for those who are curious about the story of Anuradhapura, planning a trip there, have already visited and desire a deeper understanding of its history, just want a great coffee table book to browse through, or as an ideal gift for someone special.

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9780987345127

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Reviews

The Story of Anuradhapura, by Senani Ponnamperuma, is a beautifully crafted book that narrates the tumultuous 1,500 year history of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka. Through the author's compelling literary eloquence, fascinating details regarding this magnificent kingdom's history are revealed. The story of this ancient kingdom unfolds as Ponnamperuma delves into the foundational myth of Vijaya, the totemic leader of the Sinhalese people. After readers are introduced to this important groundwork, the narration shifts into epic descriptions of the noteworthy rulers of the kingdom. This includes a description of the reign of Devanmpiya-tissa, the king responsible for introducing Buddhism to the kingdom. Ponnamperuma also describes Vattagamini-abhaya and Mahasena, who constructed the largest brick structures ever built, as well as the sad tale of Dhuatusena and his son Kasyapa, the builder of Sigiriya. Because readers are so easily transported into this ancient world with the author's use of vivid, almost poetic imagery, they will be left devastated as Ponnamperuma describes the sorry tale of Mahinda V, the last king, and the demise of this beautiful kingdom. The Story of Anuradhapura is divided into three parts. In part one of the book, readers will be captivated as Ponnamperuma outlines the trajectory of the Anuradhapura Kingdom over a period of nearly 1,500 years. Once readers have this foundational understanding of the kingdom's complex timeline of rulers and events, it is easy for them to become enticed by the second part of the book, in which readers become educated on the many cultural and lifestyle factors that shaped the kingdom. In part three, readers are provided with a guide to the modern-day ruin of Anuradhapura. Here, the author deftly connects the remaining structures of today to the rulers who constructed them. The potential audience for this book is not limited to history buffs; it is not limited to any specific group at all! The narrative is unpretentious and enchanting, but does not skimp over providing likely explanations to age-old mysteries. Don't deny yourself the journey of becoming enveloped in Ponnamperuma's The Story of Anuradhapura, a book that is educational, easy to read, but most of all, beautiful in its poetic descriptions of an enriched, affluent ancient kingdom.

The Story of Anuradhapura, by Senani Ponnamperuma, is a beautifully crafted book that narrates the tumultuous 1,500 year history of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka. Through the author's compelling literary eloquence, fascinating details regarding this magnificent kingdom's history are revealed. The story of this ancient kingdom unfolds as Ponnamperuma delves into the foundational myth of Vijaya, the totemic leader of the Sinhalese people. After readers are introduced to this important groundwork, the narration shifts into epic descriptions of the noteworthy rulers of the kingdom. This includes a description of the reign of Devanmpiya-tissa, the king responsible for introducing Buddhism to the kingdom. Ponnamperuma also describes Vattagamini-abhaya and Mahasena, who constructed the largest brick structures ever built, as well as the sad tale of Dhuatusena and his son Kasyapa, the builder of Sigiriya. Because readers are so easily transported into this ancient world with the author's use of vivid, almost poetic imagery, they will be left devastated as Ponnamperuma describes the sorry tale of Mahinda V, the last king, and the demise of this beautiful kingdom. The Story of Anuradhapura is divided into three parts. In part one of the book, readers will be captivated as Ponnamperuma outlines the trajectory of the Anuradhapura Kingdom over a period of nearly 1,500 years. Once readers have this foundational understanding of the kingdom's complex timeline of rulers and events, it is easy for them to become enticed by the second part of the book, in which readers become educated on the many cultural and lifestyle factors that shaped the kingdom. In part three, readers are provided with a guide to the modern-day ruin of Anuradhapura. Here, the author deftly connects the remaining structures of today to the rulers who constructed them. The potential audience for this book is not limited to history buffs; it is not limited to any specific group at all! The narrative is unpretentious and enchanting, but does not skimp over providing likely explanations to age-old mysteries. Don't deny yourself the journey of becoming enveloped in Ponnamperuma's The Story of Anuradhapura, a book that is educational, easy to read, but most of all, beautiful in its poetic descriptions of an enriched, affluent ancient kingdom.

Author Information

Senani Ponnamperuma is best known for his nonfiction historical books, which are held by many prestigious libraries including Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, UCLA, and the British Library. Recently, he wrote his first nonfiction novel and a children's book. Senani was born in Sri Lanka, educated in the US, and now lives in Australia. He was the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of two large Australian retailers and spent many years as a senior IT Consultant. Senani's website, Trishan's Oz, has been visited by over a hundred million people.

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