Gentle Reader, pardon my presumption for placing this book in your hands, for I am no litterateur of any pretension but only a lover of literature. It is purely a labour of love for the person whose, writings I have revelled in. It is only a personal appreciation and I crave your indulgence for it; nevertheless I am sure you will derive some pleasure in reading through, if in earnestness and with patience.
I am here presenting a vintage selection of some essays and verses of J. P. de Fonseka for the delectation of lovers of English literature. He was essentially an essayist and one of the greatest English writers of Sri Lanka, and undoubtedly our greatest Catholic writer. It is over forty years since he passed away and 1\ it grieves me to see the name of such an eminent writer been allowed to be forgotten even by the institution that he had served so faithfully and devotedly. Death overtook him suddenly; if he had lived longer he would have given us the pleasure of reading some of his published works. Hence this humble effort of mine to perpetuate his name to posterity.
J. P. de Fonseka is on a par with the best of English essayists like Charles Lamb, E.V. Lucas, G.K. Chesterton or Hilaire Belloc. In fact he was nurtured in the Chester – Belloc school of writing. Like them he was a stout defender of the Catholic faith. He wielded such a facile pen that he could write on a wide spectrum of subjects ranging from kiribath to kings, nay would even touch the realms of theology and philosophy. In most of his writings there is a subtle vein of humour that can delight the diligent reader. His is a scintillating prose style.
As J. P. is a stranger to the present generation of readers I have provided ample biographical sketches and some critique by some of his contemporaries to enable the reader to form some idea of J. P’s personality, erudition, literary talent and his versatility. Therefore it would be good for the reader first to go through them before reading his articles; for unless one has some idea of the person and the background to his writings one is liable to miss the raison d’etre of his literary effort.
J. P’s articles have appeared not only in the local journals but also in foreign ones as well; such as the New Review of India, the Catholic Digest of America, the G. K’s weekly of London.
For several years till his death he wrote his weekly piece for the Catholic Messenger mostly on Biblical themes. His regular contributions to Fr. Peter Pillai’s journal Social Justice were sui generis in which there was a reflex of the distributist thinking of his friend G. K. Chesterton. The corpus of writing he has left behind is so extensive that it can go into several volumes. All the articles in this collection are from the New Review of India unless otherwise stated. In this collection of J. P.’s writings; one could delve into the past history of Sri Lanka and her culture and customs. “The Law is an Ass”, is brimful of forensic wit, wisdom and scintillating irony. In “Belloc of Ours” J.P. scours the whole gamut of Belloc’s literary efforts. In “Stet.. Aquinas” he revels in the realms of Thomistic thought. In some others J. P. reminisces about his contacts with prominent persons of literary fame. And in others he treats of Catholic themes. Almost everywhere he emulates the paradoxical style of his friend G. K. C, and very often indulges in jovial irony and laughter over human folly; striking out paths of sense and sensibility for human betterment and welfare. He has been our laughing philosopher.
The literati with whom J. P. de Fons had camaraderie when he was sojourning in England were some of the most prominent figures of the English literary world. On his return to Ceylon he maintained a delightful correspondence with them, which shows with what esteem J. P. had been held by them. These letters alone are of some literary value and worth publishing. L P.’s caricature by the well-known artist, A. C. G. S. Amerasekera tends to depict him as a literary giant; and that he truly was both portly and eminently talented. As Fr. Justin Perera has said there never can be another J. P. de Fons. As a professor of English J P. bestrode the corridors of St. Joseph’s like a colossus. Moreover he had the rare honour and distinction of being a lay O.M.I and being called to be a papal chamberlain; for his intellect was ablaze with heavenly thoughts. My own impression of him is that of a great good man, simple and humble-a perfect gentleman.
In the appendix I have included a verse by H. Belloc in which he blows-a blistering blast on those “that dared attack his Chesterton”; in order to show how in the early decades of this century the Chester – Belloc combination cavalierly engaged themselves in the polemics of the time against atheistsm free – thinkers and agnostics. Our J. P. too followed suit locally in his own inimitable way. He was called the knight of the Holy Ghost. It is my conviction that J. P. de Fonseka has a niche in the English literary pantheon of Sri Lanka. My task is ended and I feel that I could say in the words of Horace: Exegi monumentum aere perennius.
Leonard Obris
06- 11- 1988