Kirjahaku

Alain-Fournier, was born in 1886 in La Chapelle-d'Angillon in the Cher region of France. His book "Le Grand Meaulnes" is about adolescence and regret for that which is lost. Jennifer Hashmi has not tried to transform Le Grand Meaulnes into an English version of a French novel. The poetic style of the original has been left intact, pointing always to something unattainable. Alain-Fournier communicates in hints, recollections, and frequent ellipses when Francois leaves the reader to intuit the rest for himself. Ms. Hashmi has adhered to the French wording and gaps in order to retain the intangible quality of Alain-Fournier's narrative. The story is about searching for that which is lost, lost youth, lost people, and is told by Francois who narrates all that is precious in his memory of Augustin Meaulnes, who changed his life for ever, and the lives of all of his class at Sainte-Agathe.

When Bridget receives a box containing a chess piece and a ruby ring her life, along with the lives of her family, changes. A large sum of money to to three appropriate recipients presents logistical and ethical questions. how absolute is the authority of the lavv when lives of vulnerable victims are at stake? Should compassion be allowed to the force of the low? Oliver is a solicitor facing a crisis in his own life in which he questions his ingrained adherence to the law, when challenged by the dilemma of an innocent teenager. For Bridget, the inner world of the Spirit illumines and energizes the material world from the vibrational level, she has come to believe of a higher dimension. The matters, but there is a higher spiritual reality' which judges differently, What is the validity' of a spirituality in which the frame of reference does rot embrace the grim realities of human existence?

Sonny, now tvventy, is Prince Regent of Pongoland, and also twenty, is assistant Chief Minister. They have assumed official duties inthe Island including diplomatic trips to other Islands. Tobo is still at school. Gogo has married his childhood sweetheart, Saraya. Sonny, while still feeling Pongoland is his spiritual home, is experiencing a sense of disconnect, and indeed some melancholy, as he remembersfriends and family, and his old home, in our world. Unable to make any sense of his life he goes to Mother Fulati for advice. She knowswhat he needs to establish his roots in the Island and she pints him in the right direction. While forming a vital new relationship he isembroiled in adventures quite as as those of his childhood. In the process he meets up with his old adversary, Madrico, who has not losthis propensity for double dealing. Gradually the boys develop the maturity they for their roles of authority in the Islands.

Jennifer Hashmi was born in Bradford in 1938. She was educated in Bingley Grammar School and trained as a speech therapist in Leicester School of Speech Therapy. After practicing as a speech therapist in Yorkshire for three years she completed a two-year theology course at College of Ascension, Birmingham. In 1964 she sailed to India and lived mainly in Delhi for forty-one years.Until 1976 she served in the Church of North India as Parish Worker, initially for St. James Church in old Delhi, and later in the parish of Ajmer in Rajasthan. She was also during part of this time manager o fa holiday home in Shimla. In 1977 she married Salman Hashmi who was principal of Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi. They had a son and a daughter. In 2004 her husband passed away, and at the end of 2005 Mrs Hashmi returned to Britain with her daughter. She now lives in London with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.