Ben, Roloff. Island Ceylon. Coffee table book with stunning color photos.

McClelland and Stewart, 1971. First Canadian edition.  Very informative text about Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) by John Lindsay Opie. Fine with very good protected dust jacket that has a few scratches but no tears or chips.  Oversize book contains tipped in color plates. 105 plates, 72 in color, 224 pages.  Summary:

Island Ceylon by Roloff Beny (with text by John Lindsay Opie) is a lavish photographic and cultural portrait of the island historically known as Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The book, originally published in 1970–1971, blends Beny’s striking visual eye with rich historical and cultural context to capture the essence of the island as both a physical place and a storied cultural landscape.

The core of the book consists of extensive colour and black-and-white photography—including 72 colour plates and numerous sepia gravure images—taken by Beny. These images showcase Sri Lanka’s varied and beautiful landscapes, ancient cities, religious sites, everyday life, and artistic heritage, reflecting his distinctive aesthetic sensibility and deep engagement with his subjects.

Interwoven with the photography is a rich anthology of writings, selected and introduced by John Lindsay Opie. These texts range from historical chronicles and travel accounts to cultural observations, offering readers historical perspective on Sri Lanka’s long and layered past, from its early Sinhalese chronicles to medieval travelers’ narratives and colonial experiences.

The book is organized more as a visual journey and contemplative cultural exploration than a conventional narrative. Through its compelling images and evocative texts, Island Ceylon aims to evoke not just the physical splendor of the island—its lush terrain, iconic ruins, and vibrant traditions—but also the spiritual and historical resonance that has long drawn visitors from around the world.

In summary, the book is a celebration of Ceylon’s beauty, history, and cultural diversity, presented through the artistic lens of a renowned photographer and supported by a thoughtful anthology of historical writings, making it both an art object and a richly immersive travel-cultural work.