Isle of Eden: Stories of Ceylon (1961) by J. A. R. Grenier is a vivid, atmospheric collection that brings mid-20th-century Sri Lanka to life through twenty short stories and one extended novelette. Published by K. V. G. de Silva & Sons, this volume showcases Grenier’s gift for portraying the rhythms, struggles, and raw humanity of everyday island life. With the instinctive vigour of a traditional storyteller, he captures the voices of fishermen, labourers, beggars, vendors, washermen, bargemen, and village folk—figures who might seem ordinary at a glance but whose stories pulse with intensity, emotion, and cultural depth.
 
Grenier’s writing is rooted in an intimate understanding of the island’s customs, folklore, and spiritual undercurrents. His characters move through landscapes shaped by superstition, tradition, and the unpredictable turns of fate, giving each tale an authenticity that reflects the social fabric of the time. Even when his portrayals turn harsh or unflinching, they remain full-blooded and compelling, revealing the realities of a society in transition.
 
The volume concludes with The Mani Pearl, a rare, richly detailed novelette set against the golden era of Ceylon’s legendary pearl fishery in the Gulf of Mannar. Through scenes of daring dives, exotic visitors, and the fevered pursuit of wealth beneath dangerous waters, Grenier recreates one of the island’s most romantic and storied industries.
 
A captivating blend of folklore, social observation, and adventure, Isle of Eden is a valuable addition for collectors of Sri Lankan literature, those interested in cultural history, and readers who enjoy finely crafted tales rooted in place and tradition.