Caste in Modern Ceylon: The Sinhalese System in Transition (1953, First Edition) is a foundational sociological study by Bryce Ryan, published by Rutgers University Press. Long regarded as one of the earliest comprehensive analyses of caste in Sri Lanka, the book examines how traditional Sinhalese caste structures evolved under the combined pressures of colonial rule, economic modernization, education, and emerging nationalist movements. Drawing on fieldwork, interviews, and historical documentation, Ryan provides a clear and methodical explanation of how caste adapted rather than disappeared, gaining new forms and expressions in mid-20th-century society.
 
The author explores core themes such as the transformation of occupational roles, the impact of Western-style bureaucracy, the shift in power dynamics among caste groups, and the changing significance of status in an increasingly mobile social landscape. His work remains widely cited in anthropology, sociology, and South Asian studies for its balanced approach and its detailed portrayal of lived social realities in Ceylon before sweeping post-independence reforms took hold.
 
For collectors, historians, and scholars of Sri Lankan society, this 1953 first edition is an important primary reference that documents a turning point in the island’s cultural and social evolution. Its academic clarity, historical relevance, and enduring influence make it a highly valuable addition to any library focused on South Asian history or social anthropology.