The Ulysses Man – a synopsis
Shane Joseph

...What happens when you are born in a country where you are unwanted? And when your attempts to leave are constantly thwarted? And when you finally get out, the new home is luring but unforgiving when you make a false step?

...These are the questions that shape the life of Martin James, a Burgher, living in Sri Lanka during the 60’s and 70’s. The country is newly independent, nationalism is rife, the local language and the pre-dominant religion are popular, and minorities are ignored and overtly discriminated against: seeds that sow an insurrection in 1971 and a civil war in 1983.

...Undeterred by these undercurrents, Martin is inspired by the stories of Ulysses that his mother read him as a child, and sees himself on a journey to overcome personal obstacles and get to a new shore. The setbacks he encounters are etched in his psyche – the diabolical killing of his dog, the beatings at school, the tragic birth of his sister, the loss of a brother, sexual predators, and sexual awakenings that have to be smothered to the exigencies of class and race. Home-life is no comfort either, as his parents slide into a bottomless hole of alcoholism and insanity.

...Despite these formative experiences, Martin smuggles himself into Canada and rides a roller coaster of success: he marries rich and makes it big in real-estate. His success is contrasted with those of his two life-long friends Bandu and Christo who precede him to Canada yet meet with misfortune.

...In the end, Martin’s tragic destiny catches up with him and his successful career and marriage implode, leaving him with the only option he knows best - re-invent himself yet another time and keep his odyssey alive.

...The Ulysses Man is a novel chronicling Martin’s life, carrying the universal message, that giving up is not allowed and salvation is pursued at great suffering. It also details the recent history and diaspora of the Burghers, a vanishing community of European descendents.