Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s books have influenced youths in their fight against injustice across generations, literary experts have said, stressing that the late author’s works are becoming increasingly relevant. — Literary communities across the country are gearing up to celebrate the centennial … [Read more...]
The century of Pramoedya and the existentialism of humanity
February 1, 2025 by
Next week we commemorate the centenary of Pramoedya Ananta Toer's birth. Born on Feb. 6, 1925, in Blora, Central Java, Pram, as he is widely known, was a maestro and a distinguished figure in Indonesian literature, whose legacy is difficult to overlook in the annals of history. He wrote not only to … [Read more...]
How children’s books are raising environmental awareness in Indonesia
February 1, 2025 by
Indonesian environmental campaigners took a novel approach to raising climate awareness by publishing five children’s books about the country’s environmental issues. This podcast explores their creative process and the public’s response. While these cases could have substantial impacts on the … [Read more...]
The outcast and the village beauty: A tale of Indonesian star-crossed lovers
February 1, 2025 by
Mahfud Ikhwan’s novel blends love, murder mystery, and sociopolitical intrigue rooted in Indonesia’s colonial and postcolonial history. The silky filaments of cottonwood seeds float across the dark Javanese landscape of Mahfud Ikhwan’s mysterious account of a murder foretold with teasing … [Read more...]
Nuril Basri’s Maya is a lightweight coming-of-age tale set on board a cruise ship
September 14, 2024 by
Sold as a “tragicomic tale of an Indonesian migrant worker’s voyage through love and betrayal”, Indonesian writer Nuril Basri’s third novel does not accomplish enough emotional depth to qualify as tragedy, comedy or anywhere in between. Maya is, at best, an episodic and lightweight account of the … [Read more...]