James Emerson Tennent

James Emerson Tennent
Sir James Emerson Tennent (1804–1869) was a British politician, traveler, and writer known for his works on Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). His most notable book, "Ceylon: An Account of the Island," is a detailed study of the island's history, geography, flora, and fauna. Tennent served as Colonial Secretary of Ceylon from 1845 to 1850, during which he developed a deep interest in the region. His writings were influential in shaping Western understanding of Ceylon in the 19th century.

Author's Books:


INTRODUCTION. A considerable portion of the contents of the present volume formed the zoological section of a much more comprehensive work recently published, on the history and present condition of Ceylon. But its inclusion there was a matter of difficulty; for to have altogether omitted the chapters on Natural History would have impaired the completeness of the plan on which I had attempted to... more...

INTRODUCTION. There is no island in the world, Great Britain itself not excepted, that has attracted the attention of authors in so many distant ages and so many different countries as Ceylon. There is no nation in ancient or modern times possessed of a language and a literature, the writers of which have not at some time made it their theme. Its aspect, its religion, its antiquities, and productions,... more...