Reading novels is an excellent way of getting to know something about a country when one is newly arrived, doesn’t know much about it, and is going to be spending some time there. Certainly this was my experience coming to Indonesia for the first time some decades ago. Only at that time I was … [Read more...]
Putting the Word Out
November 26, 2014 by
The works of Indonesia’s writers are barely known in the literary salons of New York and London, but moves across the archipelago could help a talented new stable of authors ink their names on the bestseller lists. At most literary soirées, mentioning the works of Okky Madasari, Ayu Utami or Seno … [Read more...]
Translating Indonesian Literature: Promoting Culture, Spreading Ideas, Fostering Change
November 26, 2014 by
“…without a love of literature, you’ll remain just a lot of clever animals.” —Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Bumi Manusia In April of 2014, Indonesia’s vice minister for education and culture, Wiendu Nuryanti, announced that the Indonesian government would allocate 11 billion rupiah for the translation … [Read more...]
The Gathering of Writers
November 23, 2014 by
Hasrullah recalled the moment when his house was set on fire four years ago. The fire was set by a group of unidentified people. Hasrullah shared his traumatic experience in the gathering event for writers in Makassar entitled ‘Gathering of 100 of Makassar Writers’. “That was the consequence of … [Read more...]
Jakarta’s ASEAN Literary Festival Spotlights Regional Realities
July 15, 2014 by
Indonesia holds several literature festivals, including the Ubud Litarture Festival on Bali and another in Makassar, amongst others. But earlier this month from, March 21-23, the capital Jakarta played host to the first ASEAN Literary Festival, drawing some 2,000 visitors. With ASEAN economic … [Read more...]
