5 Globally Famous Indonesian Novels You Must Read
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Loading... - Sofia Chew
- 03 Aug 2022
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This Earth of Mankind
This is Earth of Mankind is the first among Pramoedya Antata Toer’s series of Buru Quarter. The novels tell of the story of Minke, an aristocratic 18-year-old Javanese who lives in the waning years of the Dutch rule in Indonesia. He was enrolled in a prestigious Dutch school where he is the only native Indonesian. However, his talent and self-confidence made him a target of envy among his European and Indo-European classmates. In another storyline; he falls in love with the beautiful daughter of a native Indonesian ‘concubine’. Their marriage cannot be legalized, for she lacks the presence of a legal guardian.
This story tries to show the injustice and humiliation which Indonesians suffer just because of their social standing and rights. Those who have European blood are said to be more privileged and ranks higher in society’s standards. Minke refuses to bow down to the status quo, therefore making him the embodiment of Indonesian nationalism at a time of colonialism. Read More...
