The Merry Matchmaker Summary

The Merry Matchmaker

Lotta Pepp, a pretty and ingenious young girl, is a born matchmaker. She's never so happy when she's trying to bring together two people whom she thinks are suited to each other. Travelling in a trailer with her brother, Fuller Pepp, they stop at the Shepherds' summer home when they see a sign stating parking space is for rent. Young fifteen-year-old Sally Shepherd has decided to make some extra money for herself, hence the sign. No sooner are arrangements made for the parking space than Lotta goes to work at her favorite pastime--matchmaking. Abigail Shepherd doesn't care for boys but she does care for books. Fuller gets one look at her and decides she's the one girl in the world for him. Then Lotta meets Robert Fulton, a young man who has just managed to avoid marrying Bobo Leduc. Robert's determined to stay single but Lotta is even more determined that he won't and the battle goes on! It looks hopeless for poor Lotta and she is beset with difficulties but finally the author brings all of her comic ability into full orchestration, finishing off the play in a veritable volcano of laughter. Lotta even manages to find a husband for poor man-loving Cornelia, the Shepherds' maid!

A Merry Senhor in the Malay World

Around a century ago a Malay poem which tells of a foreigner, always indicated as Sinyor, in Southeast Asia who elopes with Lela Mayang, the wife of a wealthy Chinaman. The latter sets out in pursuit of the couple and engages in a naval battle with the Sinyor in an attempt to get his wife back. The Syair Sinyor Kosta, as the poem is known, presents us with fascinating pictures and glimpses of Malay society, in this case a nineteenth-century society in transition. It reflects changing literary tastes, a pluriform society and the beginning modernization of Malay culture. In its variegated transmission, through both manuscripts and early printings, it is an illustration of the continuous interaction between Malay authors and audiences. In particular it is a remarkable piece of early evidence of literary coexistence between Malays and Chinese, who must have enjoyed this story of the merry Sinyor each in their own way, as is apparent from the continuing process of creation, reception and recreation of the text. This book presents editions of four versions of the Syair Sinyor Kosta, of which two are translated into English. The texts are preceded by a lengthy introduction which deals with the manuscripts, their history and provenance, and their writers. The book closes with a detailed chapter with a comparative study of the four versions, an investigation of the historical setting, and an analysis of the language used in the texts. The print edition is available as a set of two volumes (9789067182164).

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