Juliet Combe writes: "Around the Fort in 80 Lives" is built on an entirely new concept in travel writing. Merchant cities worldwide are situated at the cross-currents of history and culture, and are subject to constant renewal. Galle Fort is no exception; the loss of some old families to Colombo and overseas means it has never been more important to document their fascinating history for future generations. This book is a work of passion, and involved going from building to building interviewing people about their family history and current circumstances. Without this documentation, we feel that the buildings would lack real meaning. As storytellers, we view our task as being as fundamental to the preservation of the Fort, as the architectural restoration that is being carried out by UNESCO and Galle Heritage."
Juliet Coombe has deconstructed Galle Fort in the most charming manner. "Here you will find the old man who annoyed his wife by keeping goats in the kitchen and raising the kids in the sink (the goat's, that is, not the old man's). Noor, the diver who harnesses giant octopus, though alas we only have Noor's word for it. The betel seller with a face that has more tributaries etched on it than the Amazon. And the snake charmer who says: "If you see a snake, don't get hysterical. Just give me acall and I'll come and relocate it."
