Growing : Seven Years in Ceylon book cover

Colonial Ceylon Portrait

Travel Writing

Growing : Seven Years in Ceylon

by Leonard Woolf

Growing is a portrait of a young man sent straight out from university to help govern Ceylon.


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About the book

It is doubtful that any Empire at any time has been served by such an intelligent, dutiful, hardworking and incorruptible civil servant as the young Leonard Woolf. He was determined to do what was good but discovered for himself that colonial rule, be it ever so high-minded, is fated to do wrong. Growing is also a deeply affectionate account of the mystery, magic and savage beauty of Ceylon at the turn of the century, an island whose diverse beliefs and cultures Woolf had the time and wit to explore in detail.

Book details

Published by Eland Publishing Ltd

Paperback ISBN: 9781780600710 4 Sep 2015 216 x 147 x 14 (mm) 268g