A monumental saga of passion, love, war and redemption'She will grow to plunder the senses of man and yet reject all man can offer.' This prophecy of the wise men at the birth of princess Sihavathi of Vanga comes to pass when she turns seven. It is announced that she is 'in her flowers', and has grown to know man. At ten, she leaves home to fulfil her destiny, to be the consort of the lion, and to bring forth two lion-children, Sihabahu and Sihasivali. Thus begins Carl Muller's outstanding epic where myth marries history to recreate the story of the conquest of Lanka by Vijaya, Sihabahu and Sihasivali's eldest son. In conquering the island, Vijaya is also fulfilling the Buddha's divination—that the truant prince would make for himself a kingdom on the island where Buddhism would take root and flower for all ages to come.Children of the Lion is a vivid illustration of Sri Lanka's rich culture.