An Eye for an Eye

SAYEED NEVER DOUBTS THE INNOCENCE OF LATIFA, THE BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE GIRL HE BROUGHT TO THE CITY AS HIS WIFE. BUT THERE IS NO WAY HE CAN SAVE HER FROM HER FATE. SET IN THE DESERT KINGDOM HE PORTRAYED SO VIVIDLY IN MIRAGE, BANDULA CHANDRARATNA TELLS THE TRAGIC STORY OF SAYEED AND LATIFA; THE LITTLE GIRL WHO PICTURES HER MOTHER LOST IN THE DESERT; THE FATHER WHO TRAVELS TO THE CITY TO RETRIEVE THE BODY OF HIS DAUGHTER. AND THROUGH IT ALL RUNS THE DISTANT ECHO OF LATIFA`S OWN STORY, THE TRUTH THAT LIES BEYOND THE TRAGEDY. A FINE ACHIEVEMENT, AS MOVING IN ITS EVOCATIONS OF INTENCE GRIEF AS IT IS HEARTENING IN ITS DEMONSTRATIONS OF UNSOLICITED, TOTALLY ALTRUISTIC ACTS OF KINDNESS. FRANCIS KING, LITERARY REVIEW CHANDRARATNA WRITES WITH THE BRACING CLARITY AND AUSTERITY OF A CHILLY DESERT DAWN... WRITTEN WITH A QUIET, UNAFFECTED GRACE AND SYMPATHY THAT COMPEL BOTH ATTENTION AND ACCLAIM BOYD TONKIN, INDEPENDENT A LITTLE MASTERPIECE DORIS LESSING, TLS