“This narrow path has been trod many a time already, it’s only that this time the journey is one to mark the way.” P.A.T.
So I have not been deterred after the slight Russian setback. I am plunging right into our next author: Pramoedya Ananta Toer, who is not only known for his novels but also for being an Indonesian political prisoner who orally recited this book and the following three installments of the Buru Quarter to his fellow cellmates (those political prisoners know how to be productive in jail). I'm also starting to sense a trend in my choice of literature, notably a gravitation towards authors/main characters who fit the "men-who-are-unfairly-jailed-and-write-in-prison" profile. These men are taking over my "favorites" list (take a peek if you care to under my profile), but I think I'm okay with that....
Regardless, here's a little background on the main character of the series, Minke: He is based in part on an Indonesian journalist active in the nationalist movement, Tirto Adhi Surjo, and the tensions and contradictions that arise when the power of the colonial state meets capitalism and technology are quite present. Toer himself was born on the island of Java in 1925, imprisoned by the Dutch from 1947-1949 for having participated in the Indonesian revolution, and then became a political prisoner of the Indonesian government. He created and recited the Buru Quartet to prisoners during his imprisonment on Buru Island from 1969-1970. He remained under house arrest from 1979-1992 in Jakarta while continuing to criticize the Indonesian government.... that's 13 years folks.
Regardless, here's a little background on the main character of the series, Minke: He is based in part on an Indonesian journalist active in the nationalist movement, Tirto Adhi Surjo, and the tensions and contradictions that arise when the power of the colonial state meets capitalism and technology are quite present. Toer himself was born on the island of Java in 1925, imprisoned by the Dutch from 1947-1949 for having participated in the Indonesian revolution, and then became a political prisoner of the Indonesian government. He created and recited the Buru Quartet to prisoners during his imprisonment on Buru Island from 1969-1970. He remained under house arrest from 1979-1992 in Jakarta while continuing to criticize the Indonesian government.... that's 13 years folks.
Unfortunately Toer died in 2006. I believe his books are still banned and selling them a punishable crime in Indonesia- hard to believe, considering we are almost in the second decade of the 21st century. Regardless, his novels have been translated into twenty languages, and he received the PEN Freedom-to-write Award in 1988 and numerous other prestigious literature awards during his lifetime.
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