This is a very unusual book, hard to characterize as to genre but encompassing a sweeping and illuminating description of Sri Lanka: its outstanding physical beauty, social change over the years, political history (and declining standards) and a range of fascinating personal relationships. These involve a host of exciting individuals though easily the most enthralling is the bond between Ena de Silva and her not so closely related grand nephew, the author. The narrative itself proceeds like a journey, albeit not an onerous one and one that moves with ease. Its characters breeze in and breeze out, with the author and the Ena character staying fixed and giving what would otherwise seem mere entertaining fluidity much required shape. So they remain its anchors, as it seeks to explain the ease of life and pace of a country blessed with natural beauty, history and culture. It is a deeply personal tale of a developing relationship between a great aunt and a grandnephew. At the conclusion this has seasoned into a bond of friendship that has transcended the generation gap. It is perhaps the maverick in the Ena make-up so clearly illustrated by the author that allows her to flow through the generational divide, touching and influencing the like-minded no matter whatever their ages were. The author’s flirtation with politics and his losing battle to short-sighted politicians when aiming for educational reform, and the sense of frustration arising there from, highlight the degenerating standards and outlook of a changing society. It is also semi-biographical of the life and times of Ena De Silva, although it is not written in the form of a biography but as a series of amusing trips, journeys, visits, escapades or call them what you may which the author delighted in with the iconic Ena De Silva as a more than willing accomplice. Her character, traits, humour, wit and accomplishments all get conveyed in the various episodes from an early account of her eloping with her future husband even as a minor to her deeply evolved creative commitment and her colourful sense of fashion.